Reflecting on Mark 5:1-20“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.” (Mark 4:17)
As a Jesus follower, I have experienced the Satan’s ‘scare tactics’.
This story about demons and pigs seems really odd.
But when I see how the people respond, it makes more sense.
These negative spirits delight in promoting crisis and fear.
That is what they are doing in this man.
And when that won’t work, they do it in the people.
The pigs are incidental to this story, they happened to be there.
The real goal of the ‘Legion’ is to scare the people.
Jesus comes to bring hope, healing and new life to those under the curse.
The enemy works to do the opposite, to rob people of hope, healing and new life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
This Legion succeeds in scaring the people but their pig drama.
They do not see the man “sitting there, dressed and in his right mind.” (Mark 5:15)
When they hear about the pigs, they are frightened.
And in their fear, they plead with Jesus to leave.
Legion’s strategy is a success, the people push Jesus away.
Where have you experienced ‘scare tactics’ that test your hope in Jesus?
When things go wrong in church, when a christian leader hurts you?
When politics and division among christians pushes you to doubt.
When a bad diagnosis, or a family crisis, puts fear in your heart?
When fears become questions, questions become doubts.
When doubts become despair, and despair become defeat.
Legion loves to boast about their greatness, so that we focus on it.
Legion loves to stir up trouble, to take our focus away from Jesus.
Instead of seeing Jesus and what He is doing, we only see the trouble.
Legion is currently stirring up trouble in our world.
Where do you see disturbing situations around you, discouraging you?
The church is not immune from this (in fact, Legion works overtime there).
As for me, I am forcing myself to stay focused on Jesus and what he is doing.
I see the people being helped, I see the hope being spread.
I see servant-hearted people sharing, caring and suffering for others.
Goodness is still at work in the world, though the media doesn’t cover it.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
As a Jesus follower, I am fixing my eyes on Jesus.
I am not denying or ignoring the pigs and the problems around me.
I am just refusing to let them convince me they are greater than Jesus.
Their Legion is nothing, compared to strength of Jesus in and around me.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Thank You for the good You are doing in my life, and in the world. Help me not to focus on the bad and the fears that assault my mind. Help me to join this man, sitting with you, in my right mind. A mind fixed on You!
Every day I try to see the good that Jesus has put into my day. I know it is there and some days I have to look hard for it, but I never doubt it is there. I trust it is there. This is the world the Lord has made
I amalways amazed at the children’s message in church, especially when the pastor asks a question to the little children and one always responded by saying Jesus. Yes, Jesus is the answer. Difficult though it may be, challenges are and will be there, but my focus must be on Jesus. I need a serant’s heart. Prayerfully I continue to walk each day in His Sonshine,lighting the way I need to walk. Then these words of songs come to my mind – ‘When we walk with the Lord in the Light of His way . . . ‘ and ‘All for Jesus. All that I am . . . ‘