Outline of Passages

3. Outline of Passages • Jesus Conquers Evil (Mark 5:1-3,6-13a) • Jesus Makes Us Whole (Mark 5:15-17) • Jesus Gives Us Responsibility (Mark 5:18-20)

4. Mark 5:1-3 1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.

5. Jesus Conquers Evil • Jesus led His disciples across the Sea of Galilee to a place on its eastern shore in “the region of the Gerasenes.” • Gergesa was one of the cities of the Decapolis (Ten Towns), the land of primarily Gentiles.

7. Grassy slopping hills and drop off into the Sea of Galilee.

8. “As soon as” they landed, a man living there ran out of the tombs to meet them. • This location was characterized by its caves and tombs. • Apparently, this man had been watching their boat from a distance, and as soon as Jesus got out of the boat, he ran to Jesus and knelt down before Him.

9. The man had an unclean spirit. • Being unclean meant being morally filthy and unholy. Such a person was considered wicked, and controlled by evil, namely Satan. • People in the region had tried to restrain him, but to no avail. • Finally, being welcome nowhere else, he lived among the caves and tombs, being tormented by physical and spiritual agony.

10. Mark 5:6-9 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

11. He knelt down before Jesus, affirming the Jesus’ authority as well as His deity. • The demon knew Jesus was God’s Son. • The demon was troubled over what Jesus would do to him. • What a Turn About!?! • What torment was he talking about? Eternal Damnation in Hell.

12. Jesus asked, “What is your name?” Why? • We are really not sure! • One explanation is that we gain power over something if we can name it. • An alcoholic makes no improvement until the issue is named; • Medical science cannot help anyone until the ailment is diagnosed;

13. The answer “We are Legion.” • A Roman Legion consisted of up to 6,000 soldiers. • This demonic presence was an evil force of tremendous power.

14. Mark 5:10-1310 And he begged Jesus … not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

15. From on the Sea of Galilee, looking up at the steep banks from which that herd of pigs rushed into the sea.

17. Jesus didn’t register fear at all in the presence of so many evil spirits. • Following Jesus’ example, we do well to acknowledge the reality of Satan’s control, but not become obsessed with it. • As Christians, we can live in complete confidence that Jesus has authority over evil in all of its shapes and sizes.

18. What Evils Have You Encountered? • You might not have encountered demon possession, but evil is still all around us. • List 3 evils that affect you and your family. • Then, offer them to Jesus to handle because He has authority over all evil. Spiritual Exercise Box on Page 2

19. Jesus Makes Us Whole Mark 5:14-17 ...the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid…17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

20. After hearing the story of the stampede of the pigs, everyone came to see for themselves what had taken place. They encountered Jesus and the man who had been liberated from the tyranny of Satan.

21. With the demons gone, the man looked and behaved entirely different. • Instead of being wild with rage and out of control, he sat quietly and appeared content. • Instead of being naked, he had clothes on like a civilized human being. • Instead of acting like a person who had lost his mind, he behaved like a man who had come to his senses.

22. People can change too when they encounter Jesus. • Some of the changes take place immediately; • Anger is exchanged for contentment; • Fear is suddenly replaced with hope; • Anxiety gives way to peace; • Bad habits are replaced with new habits that reflect a transformed heart.

23. Other changes may take a while. • Some of the changes may take a week or two, even a month or more; • Sometimes it takes even a lifetime; • Regardless of how long, sooner or later, the person transformed by Jesus will register on the outside the change that He’s made on the inside.

24. The Surprising Result: Wouldn’t you have expected the people to be over-joyed with Jesus? Unfortunately, just the opposite happened. • The people were afraid. • Maybe angry at the loss of 2,000 pigs. • They begged Jesus to leave.

25. What can we learn? – Two things… • To give ourselves totally to Jesus: • Have we given ourselves totally to Jesus? • Would we be afraid of what Jesus might do in our life? • The Bible assures us that the changes He might makes in our lives will not be to our detriment, rather, they will enrich us beyond our expectations. • We can expect people to reject Jesus. • They may feel threatened by Him. • They may refuse to believe or accept His purpose for their lives.

26. How has God transformed you? What fruits of the Spirit are increasingly more evident in your life now? Peace Spiritual Exercise Box on Page 3 Joy Patience Love Goodness Kindness Gentleness Faith Self-Control

27. Jesus Gives Us Responsibility Mark 5:18-2018 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

28. The man asked Jesus, “Take me along with you.” Why would he want that? • I think the man wanted to live in complete service to Jesus, just as a way of saying thank you. • Besides, why stay living here in the midst of this unbelieving people? They had just asked Jesus to leave!

29. Jesus had a much better plan. • If Jesus took the man along, how would these unbelieving people ever come to believe? • No, go back home and share with your family and friends what Jesus had done in your life. • That message could make an eternal difference in their lives.

30. Why does Jesus leave His believers in this unbelieving world today? • If Jesus took all the believers to heaven right now, how would our unbelieving world ever come to believe? • Like the man in the story, we know what it’s like to be liberated from slavery to sin so we can serve Jesus. • Like the man in the story, we too are asked to go to our family and friends and share with them what Jesus has done in our lives.

31. Please remember, all of our stories and testimonies are unique. • Some of our stories about how Jesus changed our lives are sensational. • Others of us have only ordinary testimonies, and that’s okay! • All of us who know Jesus personally have testimonies of how He changed our lives. • The Lord can use all of our testimonies for His glory, and He invites us to tell our stories about His mercy on us.

32. What could you do to share Jesus? ___ I could live out my faith so that others experience God’s love through me? ___ I could invite a friend to Church with me next Sunday? ___ I could contribute to world missions? ___ I could host a “Matthew Party”? ___ I could share with friends or family the difference Jesus has made in my life? Spiritual Exercise Box on Page 4

33. Final Thought “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).