And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5:2-5
I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark. Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 5:1-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to this chapter and the first (of three) division (vv1-5):
- The commentary's title for this chapter is division is "Can the Demonized Be Delivered?"
and for the first division is "Jesus Confronts the Demonic." - The main idea for the chapter is "Jesus is the Servant King who liberates those enslaved in a fallen world by wielding absolute authority, even over demons."
- "Jesus believed Jesus believed demons were real, and that should settle for all of us the question of their existence. Yet beyond this fact, we see in our Lord’s encounter with the Gerasene demoniac the power, mercy, and authority of the Son of God, who commands the demon with merely a word."
- In the last chapter, v41, after witnessing Jesus rebuke and calm the winds and the sea, the disciples wonder who Jesus is and here the commentary emphasizes how chapter 5 reveals for the disciples Jesus' true identity, although it is the demon who does this not Jesus.
- Old Testament ritual law stated that touching of a dead body meant that you were unclean and here in the text we see a demon-possessed man living among the dead so he would have been deemed defiled and unclean - Satan "conquered and captured."
- We are referred to John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:8 where the text shares how Satan seeks steal, kill, destroy and devour. The commentary indicates that this was Satan's attempt with the demonic man in the text - that he sought to drive this poor soul to death and eternal damnation.
- Yet even in death, as we see in death bed confessions, God is at work looking to save as many as possible as we shall see in vv6-13 (the next division).
I don't know know anyone who reads this text and sees himself as the demonic man - while this may be, we should see how all believers are unclean and condemned for eternity without Jesus. See Ephesians 2:1-3. Some of us may believe that we are so unclean and not worthy of salvation - but God came to seek and save the lost - Luke 19:10.
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and I am beyond grateful for my salvation - I was deeply lost in my sin and spiritually dead and condemned without You. Yet You reached down into the pit and saved me. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me...daily. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
