Life Lessons from a Madman

Intro

My kids love McDonald’s.
Seinfeld Happy Meal Cows {P}

Scripture

Mark 5:1–20 — 1 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him. 3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 7 Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God—do not torment me!” 8 (For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”) 9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region. 11 There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding. 12 And the demonic spirits begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about 2,000 were drowned in the lake.

14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind—the one who had the “Legion”—and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. 19 But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” 20 So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.

Prayer

Breakdown

5 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.

After the storm
Gentile area
In-ground tombs
He came TO Jesus?? {P}

3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

From town’s/man’s perspective.
Chained often. Well known.
Lived unclothed. Cut himself.
Look at Satan’s influence

BUT CONRAD
studious and intentional
biblical truth-miner…
Mental illness? {P}

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 7 Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God—do not torment me!” 8 (For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”)

Wow. LOTS going on here…
Confirm chronological order
Man runs to Jesus — Jesus tells demon to come out — demon pleads with Jesus

{>P} Mental illness?
People might have been ignorant, but was Jesus?
Demoniac bows down and calls Jesus by name and position
NOT mental illness

{>P} Why did this man come to Jesus?
Only one word is fitting to describe this interaction…

[[[ Mr Spock – Fascinating ]]]

Starts: Leave me alone
“What to you and to me?”
Unjust bothering, pulled into something
Jesus just existing is bothersome?

Cont: Jesus, Son of the Most High God
Recognizes Jesus (person and position)
Bows down with his face in the dirt
Demons have no power or authority

Cont: I implore you by God
What irony! Invoking God in order to try to control God.
Like the stained glass, they see it, but don’t GET it.

Ends: Do not torment me!
Don’t interrogate, question, torture
So… WHY RUN UP TO JESUS
Know’s he’ll lose… but not yet.

9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region. 11 There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding. 12 And the demonic spirits begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about 2,000 were drowned in the lake.

My name is Legion! Spooky!
They beg Jesus not to cast them away.
Jesus can disembody them.
{>P} Happy Meal Cows > Hillside Pigs

Why? Why did Jesus allow this?
Show strength of possession (2000)
Show depth of destruction (pigs = man)
Show power of Jesus (with a word)

14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind—the one who had the “Legion”—and they were afraid.

Herdsmen = pig caretakers.
Everyone came to see.
Something significant had happened here.
Something they had never seen before.

16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

Why did they want Jesus to leave?
FEAR of the power of this man Jesus
MASSIVE financial losses
They don’t want this disruption{P}

18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. 19 But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” 20 So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.

Wait… what?
Man wants to go with Jesus. Duh.
Jesus say no, but GO TELL PEOPLE.
I think I got whiplash!

Jesus always says silence… why not now?
COMMONLY: not Jewish region (pigs)
Same crowding?
Theory: Jesus’ mission statement

Luke 4:18–19 — 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Proclaim good news
Release captives
Regaining of sight (only?)
Free the oppressed

But Conrad!
Oblivious overlooker
Obvious observations
READ MARK 1:23–25

Mark 1:23–25 — 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!”

Jesus tells the demon to be quiet.
Therefore; Your theory is invalid!
Jesus rebukes the demon AFTER identified.
No record of the man being told to.

Jesus is here to do two things
Preach the Gospel and Chew Bubble Gum
Jesus came to set us free.
Jesus came for FREEDOM~!

The sort of healing and restoration that Jesus brings leads to a strong response from those who appreciate their forgiveness. Forgiven much.

Conclusion

Satan and his demons have no dominion, authority, or power in the face of Jesus of Nazareth.

Whatever you’re going through is a symptom.
Curing symptoms is better for a while.
Sin is the under lying disease.

[[[ COBRA CHRIST ]]]

Don’t treat the symptoms, treat the disease.

Knowing ABOUT ≠ knowing
The demons knew who Jesus was, others afraid
The demons prayed to God
Go Deeper

Going deeper:
They don’t want disruption; status quo {P}
Send Jesus away when he makes us uncomfortable?