The Maniac of Gadera (Mark 5:1-20)

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by

Robert Piña
in

Regarding this maniac of Gadera: 

  1. His Condition with an Unclean Spirit– Vs 2 this man was possessed by an unclean spirit or devils according to Luke 8:27 “which had devils long time”.
  • Dwelled among the Tombs– vs 3 these devils in the man wanted to live within the dead, in darkness, and corruption.This is exactly were lost people are today. John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”. 
  • He was Untamable– vs 4 /Romans 1:29-32.  These people don’t want to be tamed. Lost people are controlled by the prince of the power of the air, the devil and they will do the deeds of the devil every time. Uncontrolled and depraved. 
  • He was Crying- Vs 5 Some cry because they don’t want to live like this but they don’t want  Jesus either, they’re miserable. Other cry because this is not a happy and joyous way to live. They cry because they thing there is no hope. 
  • He was Cutting Himself– Vs 5 / Romans 3:10-18 Every time people sin they wound themselves. The prophets of Baal did the same before Elijah I Kings 18:28 “and they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them”. 

2. His Encounter with Jesus Christ- People will encounter Jesus Christ when we present Him to them. NT Bibles, Tracts, Witness, Testimony, etc. 

  • He Worshiped Jesus-vs 6  This man recognized who Jesus was. 
  • He acknowledged the deity of Jesus– Vs 7 “Jesus, thou Son of the most high God”. I John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 
  • He came as he was– with the marks of the chains and fetters and the marks of sin. Just as I am. 

3. His Cleansing by Jesus Christ– No matter how bad a person is controlled by devils and how mean he may be, there is hope of deliverance. Only Jesus can deliver a man with an unclean spirit.

  • Jesus spoke the word of Power– he commanded the evil spirit to come out. 
  • This man was possessed by Legion– Luke 8:30 “What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him”.  He desperately needed The Savior Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”. 
  • The point is that lost people need Jesus Christ– He is the answer. Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men, this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”. 

4. The Effect of Jesus Christ’s Saving Power– Vs 15 

  • Sitting– Vs 3 This man could not be bound with fetters (shackles for the feet) and chains. And now he is sitting at the feet of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. 
  • Clothe– clothing is good. It’s moral. It’s a normal thing. 
  • Right Mind– II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. The right/sound mind come from God. The mind of this world comes from the devil. 

5. His Command to Tell Others– Vs 19-20 This man was thankful and wanted to follow Jesus and tell people about what Jesus did for him. 

  • Go Home- Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. In others words don’t stay with Jesus, Go! 
  • To Thy Friends– The closest people to us, our friends are at the one’s that should know the great change that has taken place in our lives by Jesus Christ. They need to see our witness. 
  • And Tell Them– “how great things the Lord hat done for thee”. God wants to be glorified every time. In Acts 10:24  Cornelius “called together his kinsmen and near friends”. Cornelius was burdened for his family and friends, are we? 
  • And he Departed– This man did exactly what Jesus Christ told him to do. We have the same commission from God to tell others, are we doing it?  This man didn’t waist time, you do the same. 
  • Began to Publish– to publish the Word is to take the Word of God and put it in the hands and ears of people where ever they may find themselves. 

Conclusion– There are lost people in this town, many of which may be possessed by devils and their only hope is Jesus Christ. Our command is just like this man, to go and tell others about Jesus Christ. He is the answer to people’s problems, he is the cure for sin, and eternal life in heaven is found in Him.