In this episode, J. Mark teaches on Mark 5:1-20, concluding the lesson on Jesus “going to the dark side.” Jesus’ interaction with a demon-possessed man shows us several steps on what we should do when we are called to dark places. This passage shows how Jesus has given us the power through His Holy Spirit to confront evil. He has commissioned us as His witnesses to call people to choose which side they will be on.
Transcript
We are honored to be with you today. Thank you so much for being there for part two of “Going to the Dark Side.” As followers of Jesus, we recognize the reality of both the spiritual and physical realms and exalt Jesus as King of both. All followers of Christ also know that a spiritual battle is raging. Satan is fighting for souls. In John 10, Jesus tells us Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The spiritual battle we are in is intense and real. We must always be on guard and fight. I encourage you, never give up, always be vigilant.
Today, we are finishing the second part of this teaching. J Mark will read Mark 5, then we will look at two more steps needed as we go to the dark side.
1Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,
4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And he had pulled the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.
7 And he 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.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”
9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.
12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”
13 And at once Jesus permitted them. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what had happened.
15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.
17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and had compassion on you.”
20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Another STEP (in going to the dark side) is,
Confronting Evil
At the demons’ insistence, Jesus permitted them to enter the pigs. What happened next stunned the bystanders! The entire herd of 2,000 pigs rushed down a steep slope and into the Sea of Galilee to their deaths. This was undeniable proof that the demons had left the man and entered the pigs. It also illustrated the demons’ destructive power on a massive scale. Most importantly, it demonstrated Jesus’ absolute authority over them.
For those who follow Christ, confronting evil in society today is costly. But we must not shrink in fear. Instead, we need to “put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the devil’s schemes.” We are not struggling against human beings, but against spiritual forces of evil in this world of darkness, working through human beings. We must not retreat in the face of opposition but go boldly forward to confront evil in our time.
Going to the dark side requires us to cross barriers and confront evil.
Another STEP (in going to the dark side) is,
Choosing Sides
Not all displays of Jesus’ power are as dramatic as this one. But one thing is sure: when Jesus shows up, you can’t be neutral. You can accept Him or reject Him, but you can’t ignore Him!
Those who had cared for the pigs and witnessed their destruction ran away in fear and told everyone they saw what had happened. The news spread like wildfire across the whole region. When people heard about what happened, they wanted to see it for themselves.
So, they came, and sure enough, the pigs were floating in the water. Even more astounding was the formerly demon-possessed man, sitting with Jesus, fully clothed and mentally whole. And they were afraid. This was the same kind of fear the disciples experienced after Jesus stilled the storm. It was the realization that they were in the presence of the Holy One.
The people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. Why? Was it the loss of the 2,000 pigs? This would have been a significant shock to the local economy.
Were these people content to remain in darkness to protect their possessions? Were they more concerned about their livelihood than the deliverance of this tormented man? Or were they bothered by the fact that they had witnessed a demonstration of power that left them feeling very uncomfortable?
These people decided they didn’t want Jesus in their community. You can make the same decision today; you have that freedom. But you can’t choose the consequences of your choice. They are built into your decision.
Just like the people of Gadara, the behavior of most unbelievers today isn’t as extreme as the demoniac’s. But regardless of their behavior, every human being is a sinner. I suppose there were many “good people” in that community, people who took pride in their culture, heritage, and citizenship. But when they rejected Jesus, they chose the temporary over the eternal. Jesus wanted to give them freedom from sin, just like He had given to the demoniac.
Going to the dark side requires us to cross barriers and confront evil. It also requires us to choose sides. Today, you can choose sides. Which side will you choose?
The Final STEP (in going to the dark side) is,
Commissioning Witnesses
In response to the crowd’s request, Jesus prepares to leave the area. As He is getting into the boat, the formerly demon-possessed man keeps begging Him, “Let me go with you.” We can surely sympathize with his desire. Jesus had delivered him from a life of misery and degradation. Out of gratitude, he was ready to follow Jesus anywhere.
But Jesus said to him, “Go to your home, to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and that He had mercy on you.” Maybe that seems harsh to us. How was he going to survive as the only Believer in this pagan community?
We can take comfort in the fact that Jesus knows all things. He knew this man and how he would respond to Jesus’ command. Jesus gave him the most challenging assignment possible – go home to your family and friends and be My witness there. That was his commission.
So, the man went off as Jesus commanded. He shared his story throughout the Decapolis, telling anyone and everyone who would listen about all that Jesus had done for him. What happened after that? We don’t know, that’s the end of the story for us.
But we can be assured of at least two things. God’s Word would have its promised effect. Second, we can be sure that as this man repeatedly recounted the story of his miraculous deliverance, his love for Jesus and his gratitude grew deeper. Jesus said, “To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” The reverse is just as true. The one who is forgiven much, the same loves much.
The challenge many of us face is to realize just how much we’ve been forgiven. We tend, like the crowds there on the seashore that day, to compare ourselves to others whom we consider the worst of sinners. We’re not nearly as bad as the demoniac! We see our behavior as respectable, and we don’t engage in many of the sinful practices prevalent around us.
But when we open our hearts before the holy presence of Jesus, we gain a deeper understanding of our own sinfulness. Our pride, our self-righteousness, our refusal to forgive others, our insistence on our rights, and a host of other things show us just how much we need the mercy and grace of Jesus. Jesus came over to the dark side to save you and me, too.
Jesus’ final instructions to the disciples just before His ascension to Heaven were – “But you shall receive power… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus’ command to them was like the command He gave the former demoniac; your witness begins at home.
Jesus has given you and me that same commission. Maybe you think your story isn’t dramatic or compelling. Not many people have a story like the demoniac. But every born-again child of God has a redemption story to tell.
You and I can testify to the peace we have in our hearts. We can tell others how God has given us a purpose for living that goes beyond ourselves. We can share with them how He has given us victory over harmful habits that affect our bodies and our relationships with others. We need to assure them that these things are true, not because we’re good people, but because Jesus has set us free from the power of sin.
Going to the dark side isn’t easy, but Jesus hasn’t called us to a comfortable life. He has called us to cross barriers and go places we don’t want to go. He has given us the power through His Holy Spirit to confront evil and to call people to choose which side they will be on. And He has commissioned us as His witnesses; first at home and then into the wider world.
All the while, we must remember that Jesus left the glorious light and glory of Heaven to come over to the dark side to rescue us. May God give us the courage to follow His example.
Thanks, J Mark, for explaining this event in this way. Thanks for the good summary at the end, which included the four points from both lessons. I especially appreciate the challenge to follow Jesus’ example. This is the goal. We are supposed to be like Him and do what he did. The Bible isn’t something we study, admire, and feel good about. We study it and build our lives on what we learn. If you’ve been challenged by something from this lesson, don’t just think about how nice it was. Put it into practice, and may God help us as we strive to be more like Jesus.
If you want to hear this lesson again, or the first part of this teaching, please let us know. You can reach us by email or the internet. Our email address is [email protected], and our website is heraldsofhope.org. Please get in touch with us using the method that is easiest for you. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks so much for being with us today. Blessings as you live for Jesus, our soon-coming King. We know He is the king of the Spiritual realm, and in just a short time, He will be the physical King on this earth. Till then, let’s be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.”
