Sermons From Mark - Who Was Afraid Of Jesus? (5:1-20)

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                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Who Was Afraid Of Jesus? (5:1-20)

INTRODUCTION

1. After calming the storm, Jesus and His disciples arrived in the
   country of the Gadarenes... - Mk 5:1
   a. A region on the east side of the Sea of Galilee
   b. Variously called Gadarenes, Gersasenes, and Gergesenes (after
      nearby cities)
   c. Also known as the Decapolis (a district of ten cities) - Mk 5:20

2. After taming a wild sea, Jesus now tames a wild man (Hendriksen)...
   a. A man possessed with unclean spirit - Mk 5:2
   b. Unable to be bound by chains, night and day crying and cutting
      himself - Mk 5:3-5
   c. Moved to worship Jesus by the legion of demons that possessed him
      - Mk 5:6-9
   d. The demons begged not to be tormented or sent out of the country
      - Mk 5:7,10
   e. Asking to be able to fill a herd of swine, they are allowed, only
      to drown them - Mk 5:11-13
   f. The swine feeders fled to tell others, who when seeing the
      demoniac in his right mind, begged for Jesus to leave their region
      - Mk 5:14-17
   g. As Jesus returns to his boat, the healed man pleads to join Him,
      but is sent home to tell others what the Lord has done - Mk
      5:18-20

[In studying Mark's account of the healing of the demoniac and the
events which followed, I was struck by the fear of Jesus manifested in
this story.  So I ask, "Who Was Afraid Of Jesus?"  Was it...]

I. THE DEMONS WHO WERE LEGION?

   A. YES, AND JUSTIFIABLY SO...
      1. They begged Jesus not to torment them - Mk 5:7
      2. Note the similarity to the unclean spirit(s) in the synagogue
         - Mk 1:23-24
      3. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil - 1Jn 3:8
      4. The demons (unclean spirits) knew the time was coming - Mt 8:29
      5. Indeed, everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his
         angels - Mt 25:41
      6. Even now there are sinful angels bound by "chains of darkness"
         - 2Pe 2:4; Jude 9
      7. One day the devil himself will be cast into the lake of fire
         - Re 20:10
      -- Yes, the demons who were legion were terrified of Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD BE AFRAID...
      1. If we are not ready for the coming of the Lord - 2Th 1:7-9
      2. We too will experience everlasting fire prepared for the devil
         and his angels - Mt 25:41,46
      3. Those not in the Book of life will not escape the lake of fire
         - Re 20:15; 21:8
      -- Yes, we should be terrified of Jesus if we are not ready!

[As we return to our text (Mk 5:1-20) with our question ("Who Was Afraid
Of Jesus?"), was it...]

II. THE DENIZENS OF THE REGION?

   A. YES, BUT UNJUSTIFIABLY SO...
      1. When they came to Jesus and saw the healed demoniac, they were
         afraid - Mk 5:14-15
      2. They pleaded with Jesus to depart from their region - Mk 5:17
      3. Their fear was the fear of the unknown, and they were unwilling
         to know
      4. Their fear deprived them of great blessings!
      -- Yes, the denizens of the region were foolishly afraid of
         learning more about Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID...
      1. Of learning about Jesus, for He offers rest for our souls - Mt
         11:28-30
      2. Of coming to Jesus, for He is the source of every spiritual
         blessing - Ep 1:3
      3. Of obeying Jesus, for His words will free us from the bondage
         of sin - Jn 8:31-32,34-36
      4. Of following Jesus, for His words will provide safety in life's
         storms - Mt 7:24-27
      -- No, we should not be afraid to learn whatever we can about
         Jesus!

[Finally, as we consider "Who Was Afraid Of Jesus?", we ask if it
was...]

III. THE DEMONIAC WHO WAS HEALED?

   A. NO, AND JUSTIFIABLY NOT...
      1. He begged to be with Jesus, but Jesus had other plans for him
         - Mk 5:18-19
      2. He was not afraid of Jesus, nor afraid to tell others about
         Jesus - Mk 5:20
      3. Jesus had done great things for Him, and telling others led
         them to marvel - Mk 5:20
      -- No, he who was healed by Jesus was not afraid of Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID...
      1. Of Jesus, for He loved us and washed us from our sins!- Re 1:5
      2. Of telling others about Jesus, who has given us great hope
         - 1Pe 3:15
      -- No, we who have been saved by Jesus should never be afraid of
         Jesus!

CONCLUSION

1. Who was afraid of Jesus...?
   a. Those unwilling to repent of their sins
   b. Those unwilling to learn about Jesus

2. Who was not afraid of Jesus...?
   a. The one who appreciated what Jesus had done for him
   b. The one who was willing to tell others what Jesus had done

3. Who are we more like in this story...?
   a. The demons who were legion?
   b. The denizens of the region?
   c. The demoniac who was healed?

The nature of our relationship with Jesus reveals the answer.  Do we
want to be with Jesus?  Are we willing to tell others about Jesus?  Or
are we afraid of Jesus...?
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