READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Freed from hellish darkness to Hope-filled restoration. That’s what Jesus did for a spiritually oppressed man, reigned and ruined by a legion of demons.
The Master took His disciples across the Sea of Galilee to a place shunned by the Jews. Gerasenes was an inconvenient foreign location with a paganistic culture, an unreached people group. During the arduous journey, Jesus’ disciples had a foretaste of His divine authority over the wind and waves in a storm that threatened to sink their boat. What they witnessed next on land would have transported their newly awestruck reverence for Him to higher ground.
Stepping out the boat, Jesus was met by a man who “came from the tombs”. Possessed by a legion of demons, he was unstoppable by any means of restraint. Bowing down in worship of “Jesus, Son of the Most High God”, the impure spirits in him pleaded hysterically not to be sent away but into a large herd of pigs feeding nearby. With Jesus’ permission, Legion exited the man and entered the pigs which rushed down the lake and drowned. (v2-13) Unlike the exorcised man who gratefully begged to go with Jesus, the people of Gerasenes pleaded with Him to leave them for they had suffered a huge financial loss. (v14 -18)
“Living in the tombs” and being “eternally bound” are the default state of every person who knows no true hope. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) It is the Devil’s aim to blind humanity and bind them in unclean tombs of darkness that separate them eternally from God. They are “darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” (Ephesians 4:18) “Night and day” they “cry out and cut (themselves) with stones”. (v5) Those who are lost and depressed need our mercy and compassion.
- Why Do OUTREACH? To reach and lead the lost from eternal death to eternal life. Even more powerful than the symbol of an inescapable tomb is the EMPTY TOMB of Christ. Jesus broke the curse of sin and death to set us eternally free. Gone are dark ignorance and hopeless, helpless bondage. In Christ there is joyful reconciliation with God and fullness of an everlasting life with Him. It is worth battling a storm to impart Living Hope to even one lost soul who is so very precious to God.
- What Is OUTREACH About? Showing who Jesus is. Many saw the impossible miracle performed by an all-powerful sovereign God greater than any Legion. Jesus gives His disciples spiritual authority to partner Him in faith, and to witness how He transforms their good works into miracles. Showing someone that Jesus loves them, remains just that – but miracles happen when good works bring about transformed lives. In churched medical and crisis relief, missioners proclaim that Jesus is a far better Healer than the limited medicines they have brought. At every station, from screening to triage and treatment, they pray with every patient. There is deliverance, healing, and binding of the broken hearted when we show who Jesus is.
- How Can We OUTREACH Easily and Powerfully? Go home to those around you and tell how God showed you mercy and compassion. The restored man, “dressed and in his right mind” listened to Jesus and remained among his people. “He began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (v20) So did a villager treated in a recent medical mission for a huge and growing lump in her throat. She praised the Lord testifying that it had disappeared after being prayed over by the same medical team six months earlier! We are not to fear negative naysayers or those who may misunderstand our work in the Lord. Even a language-translated prayer by Google heals the sick in foreign lands to know that God is alive and real. God transforms hearts miraculously as we partner Him using our stories, whether personally experienced or witnessed by serving Him in a community, or on a mission trip.
The Almighty One is more powerful than any stronghold, greater than any fear. Evangelism happened because the transformed man obeyed Jesus. God desires that many more receive His freedom and love. When we commit our good works to God’s glory, He restores the lost to wellness and fullness of life in Christ.
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture (Mark 5:1-20)
- Gerasenes is a place where Jews shun. Why?
- Why would Jesus go to such a place?
- If you were a disciple of Jesus and you encountered the man with unclean spirit, what would you do?
- The healing is a miracle – but why would people still reject Jesus in v17?
- Why would Jesus want the healed man to remain? Do you think many of us are like him?
- Recall Sermon
- Why is Outreach important?
- What is Outreach all about?
- Jesus instructed a simple way on how to do outreach (v19). What do you think of this approach and are you able to try it out on someone this week?
- What other points of the sermon stood out for you?
- Relate Personally
- How have you witnessed the power of God in your life through your service? Are there any stories you can tell?
- What is your experience in Outreach? (Evangelism, Social Concerns or missions). What are your challenges and convictions?
- Commit to Action
- What can you do to avail yourself for outreach/mission trip?
- What do you think Jesus would want us to do in the area of outreach? How can you partner Him to reach the lost?
