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THINK On These Things |
One More Disciple |
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Philippians 4:8
In the Gospel of Mark, in Chapter 4, we see Jesus once-again teaching the multitude at the side of the sea He taught in parables. Later, when He was alone with The Twelve, He explained to them the parable of the sower. He ended His teaching with this insight:
“Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?. . . It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” (Mark 4:30-32)
A tiny seed may become a great tree in the Kingdom.
Then, when evening came, Jesus said to the twelve, “Let us pass over to the other side,” (Mark 4:35)
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” (Mk 5:1-2)
The Gospels record many of the Lord’s ministries to individuals. Some seem almost accidental. He was passing along and encountered someone in need. Perhaps a blind man called out in hope. It sometimes seems like He just stumbled on them. Of course we know that nothing is an accident with God. In this story about the Gadarene it is very clear that this was an appointment arranged by Jesus. Luke 8 says it took place on “. . . a certain day. . .“ More than an appointment, it was a missions trip.
Jesus did not go to some heavily populated area, a town or a village. Jesus landed where this hapless man was cowering. He landed at the tombs. The man he met was:
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Torn by demons.
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Shackled by men.
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Alone and naked.
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Feared and hated.
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Howling among the graves of the dead.
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As good as dead himself.
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A terrible sight and in a terrible state.
Then Jesus came. The demons left. Those who watched were in fear and awe. The nakedness and the howling were ended. The poor demonized man was in his right mind. All the local folk could talk about was the two thousand pigs, crashing into the sea. But the rescued man was ready to follow Jesus wherever He might go.
Jesus had a different plan.
This man would become more than a follower. He would become a disciple. He would become a witness in places that Jesus would never walk. Decapolis, the Ten Cities, would be his mission field. He would start now.
Yes, from the beginning, Jesus had a plan.
One thing we know: the devils hate God and hate His people. The more likely someone is to be useful to the Kingdom of God, the more the devil hates them. Those he hates he hinders. He binds and hobbles and side tracks would-be servants. Did not the prince of the power of the air try to hinder Jesus from reaching this very man by stirring up a storm at sea? (Mark 4:37-39) Many afflicted dwell among the tombs of this world, alive to sin but dead to Christ.
From the narrative we can tell that Jesus crossed the sea to perform only one work. His mission was not to drown pigs. His mission was not to heal a mad man. His mission was not healing. Healing was His tool. His mission was to ordain an evangelist. When He had finished this work, He at once returned to the other side of the sea and ministered there.
The theological training program to prepare the new evangelist for his labors was brief indeed. His desire was to go with Jesus and learn more. But Jesus said he already knew all he needed to know. He knew and could say:
“Once I was bound, but now Jesus has set me free. Once I was the slave of a legion of demons, naked, mad and in agony, but now Jesus has set me free.”
This is in contrast to a number of other occasions where Jesus healed someone and told them to “tell no man.” This time He said, “Tell!”
“Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Mark 5:19-20
And all men did marvel!
How many could be rescued for service, if we would see their condition as enslavement rather than rebellion? The Gadarene was transformed from madness to ministry. We remember how, in a similar visitation, the Apostle Paul was transformed from hate to love. How many are there who could be disciples for Christ, but are bound, prohibited by unclean spirits? Spirits of anger, greed, envy, deviance, pride and other sins run rampant in our world.
We abhor these manifestations. We should. But what of the person “clothed and in their right mind” that is hidden away inside? What of the “exceeding fierce” one, waiting for Jesus to set him free to live a normal life? What of the promise of ministry through an undeniable testimony?
Do you know a “mad Gadarene”?
If you avoid them, you do well for your own safety. But prayer can operate at a distance. Prayer can set such people free. Prayer can reveal the hidden disciple that lives within. Perhaps you believe there are few hidden disciples amongst the raving multitude. You think that prostitutes and politicians have no kernel of good in them. Some may not. Some may. Jesus knows. Neighbors, co-workers, family members, media persons, teachers: all are candidates.
Perhaps, if you would ask, the Holy Spirit might give you the name of a modern day “Gadarene” for whom He would like you to pray, that the scales be removed from their spiritual eyes and that he or she might also become
One More Disciple,
To go where you can’t go,
A tiny seed to become a great tree in the Kingdom.
11/17
Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.
1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733