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Mark 5:1-20 “The Courage to Welcome”

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5–8 minutes

Mark 5:1-20 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

Jesus and his disciples arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, a Gentile village on the eastern side of Galilee. There was a man in this village whom all the townspeople feared. He was a demon-possessed man, and his condition was extremely severe. Not even chains or shackles could hold him. The townspeople had united to reject him, so he lived among the tombs (verses 1-5).

As if Jesus already knew about the situation, he headed straight to where the man was as soon as he arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus saw the man from a distance, he commanded, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” (v. 7). In the spiritual realm, physical distance is not a barrier. This is why we pray for those who are far away. Sensing the impending danger, the demon ran to Jesus and pleaded with him because it recognized him as “the Son of the Most High God” (v. 7). When Jesus asked its name, it replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many” (v. 9). The term “Legion,” translated as “army,” refers to a Roman military unit of about 6,000 soldiers. The demon possession that this man was suffering from was an extremely unusual and severe case.

The demons first begged Jesus not to cast them out, but realizing their request would not be granted, they asked to be sent into the herd of pigs grazing on the hillside (verses 11-12). They believed this might allow them to escape their predicament. Knowing their plans would ultimately fail, Jesus granted their request. When the demons entered the pigs, the animals went into a frenzy, becoming uncontrollably agitated and distressed (verse 13). As a result, about two thousand pigs rushed into the lake and drowned altogether.

The people herding the pigs were hired workers, while the pigs had separate owners. It seems the villagers had collectively employed these workers to tend the pigs. The herders ran to inform the owners of what had happened. When the villagers came and saw the once-demon-possessed man now calm and in his right mind, they were astonished. After hearing the full account of what had occurred (verses 14-16), they could not understand or handle the situation. Losing two thousand pigs in an instant was shocking enough, but they also didn’t know how to respond to Jesus, who was at the center of it all. They feared that similar disruptions would continue to happen if Jesus stayed in their village. Therefore, they begged him to leave their region (verse 17). They preferred to continue living in the way they always had, unwilling to embrace the change Jesus brought.

Jesus turned to leave. As he was about to get into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed came to him and begged to go with him (verse 18). However, Jesus gently declined his request and sent him back home. Instead, Jesus instructed him to share with his family and neighbors the grace God had shown him (verse 19). Following Jesus’ command, the man went to his village and other regions, testifying about what had happened to him (verse 20). The term “Decapolis” refers to ten Gentile cities located on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This man became the first witness in the Gentile region.

Meditation:

Welcoming Jesus as the center of my life inevitably brings disruption. This disruption is to be expected. Until now, I have been the master of my own life, and material possessions have been my purpose. Believing in Jesus means that he becomes the Lord of my life and the purpose shifts from material gain to the kingdom of God. It means my entire world is turned upside down. I must give up the things I once enjoyed and let go of what I previously considered my purpose. The familiar order of my life must change, which is deeply uncomfortable. For this reason, many people say, “Leave me as I am! I like things the way they are!”

This is why the people of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave. They saw the transformation in the demon-possessed man, recognized who Jesus was, and should have joined in the work of God’s salvation unfolding through him. Had they done so, the same transformation that happened to the demon-possessed man could have happened to them as well. This was the true path to life and hope, but they rejected Jesus because they wanted to continue living as they always had. They feared that if they welcomed Jesus into their village, uncontrollable and disruptive events would continue to occur. Welcoming Jesus would have meant a fundamental upheaval of their way of life.

This truth remains the same today. Even if some accept Jesus, they do not place him at the center of their lives but instead keep him at the margins. This is because they fear the changes he may bring. They feel they have too much to lose. However, instead of focusing on what might be lost, we must focus on what we gain. Gaining Jesus Christ means gaining everything, for everything we need is found in him.

Prayer:

Lord, we still want to shape our own lives. We want you to be with us, but only as much as we desire—only to the extent that it does not make us uncomfortable or cause us loss. Our hearts are not much different from those of the people in the Gerasene village. Yet we still call out, “Lord, Lord.” This is the root of our unhappiness. Now, we desire to surrender fully to you. We want to be completely ruled by you. Please grant us a faith that finds satisfaction in You alone. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus transforms lives when we invite him into our hearts and trust him fully. While it might seem scary to let go of control, we gain true peace, hope, and purpose when we let Jesus guide our lives.

  • For Preschool-Lower Elementary
    • Why did God give us the Armor? What kind of Armor is that?
    • How can we put on the Armor of God?
  • For Upper Elementary-Middle School
    • What might feel scary or hard about letting Jesus be in charge of your life?
    • What are some “pigs” (things you hold onto) that make it hard to let Jesus be the center of your life?
  • For High School
    • Why do people sometimes keep Jesus at the “margins” of their lives instead of letting him be at the center?
    • What are practical steps you can take to surrender areas of your life to Jesus?

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