Friday, July 27, 2012
Mark 5:2,6-8 And when Jesus had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit ... when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he [the unclean spirit] cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For Jesus said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"
JESUS GIVES FREEDOM
Thankfully, I don't know what it's like to be possessed by an evil spirit. Not to have control over your body and emotions, over what you say and do, is rather terrifying. The only way I can remotely begin to picture what it would be like is to think on what it's like to lose your balance and not be able to catch yourself -- or the feeling you get when an arm or leg falls totally asleep and you can't force it to move until you work the blood back into it. But those examples are obviously jokes compared to the Biblical accounts like the one above.
We have learned so far this week of Jesus' power primarily over earthly elements such as storms, diseases, and even death itself! But what about the heavenly elements? What about spirit beings such as Satan and the many other evil spirits such as those mentioned above? It is the same awesome and powerful word of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that we see again accomplish such amazing and miraculous things! We actually hear the demons beg Jesus to be merciful! Jesus speaks, and gives freedom to the man once possessed!
Can you picture the joy that this demon possessed man had once Jesus set him free from his many captors? You can! You and I are certainly possessed by evil. We may not have demons in us, but we sure have an abundance of evil, sin, and wickedness. Our actions too often would seem like we are possessed! The words we speak -- such slander! The thoughts we think -- unspeakable! But thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction ..." (Psalm 103:3, 4), Who gives FREEDOM freely, from the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh!
