A Nude Dude in a Rude Mood
Mark 5:19 “… Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”
The story of the Gadarene demoniac floods our imaginations with both mystery and awe. And the miraculous deliverance of his life from ruin inspires us with hope in all things.
No man ever thinks that he will be the monster in the woods that children are taught to fear; the troll under the bridge, the ogre in the cave, the creature in the lagoon. But that’s who the nameless Gadarene had become. He was the demoniac that lived among the tombs. The one that all feared.
We are not given any details of how he fell into this woeful condition, but we are given front rows seats to his amazing deliverance. We do know that for about the space of three years he lived an inhuman existence – naked, enraged, cutting himself with stones, and terrifying any who approached him.
His day of dramatic freedom came when Jesus of Nazareth crossed the sea of Tiberias on a mission to reclaim this solitary soul. A storm rose at sea attempting to capsize the vessel and negate the mission. Jesus rebuked the winds and they ceased.
Mark 4:35 – 41 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
It can be the same with us, on our ways to either seeing or performing a miracle in the Name of Jesus Christ. Satan will try to stop and disrupt your journey. As Jesus stood up and took control over the situation, we must do the same. Do not be distracted from your mission.
Arriving on shore, the demons bellowed out at Jesus asking Him to leave them alone. He did not comply with their wishes. Instead He cast the ugly horde into a herd of swine, who then ran headlong off a cliff into the sea and drowned.
Suddenly a quietness came over the tormented man and he was set free.
The story ends with this man sitting, clothed and in his right mind. Then Jesus directs him to return to the great city from which he had originally come, and tell the story to all his friends of what Jesus had done.
The bottom line is this, if Jesus can deliver this man from so dark a pit and transform him into such an irresistible force for the Kingdom of God…what in the world do you think He can do with you?
Prayer: “Lord Jesus. Today I need deliverance and healing from all that is wrong in my life. Please help me not to be distracted from my mission and to stand in Your authority. This I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”