THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA (Mark 5:1-19)
July 16, 1995
Int. In our conversion experience, most of us can relate to this poor man.
1. Things must have looked perplexing enough to this poor man. "GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS"
A. "BUT, LORD, I HAVE NO FRIEND BUT THEE."
1. The Grave yard was his home.
2. The Demons were his only friends.
3. Demonic utterance was his only "SPEECH"
4. His only contact with the real world was with those that bound him in chains.
5. What friends? He had been a social outcast for years.
Loneliness is like a piano without keys,
Like a violin without strings.
Like a sanctuary without a congregation
Or a choir where no one sings.
Loneliness is like a blade of grass
Growing through a crack of cement.
Loneliness is like a camp ground
Without a single tent.
Loneliness is like a mocking bird
That cannot sing a song.
Loneliness is a feeling
That one does not belong.
Like a pansy in a corn field
Hidden where no one can see.
I know all there is to know about loneliness
Because it lives inside of me. (Copied)
2. "GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS"
A. WHAT FRIENDS? They had even asked Jesus to depart. (Vr. 17)
Thomas Wolfe said: "We are told that, after a visit to the palace to visit with Queen Victoria, the great poet Alfred Lord Tennyson commented, 'Up there, in all her glory and splendor, she was lonely.' "
B. (Thomas Reade, "Christian Meditations") said:
1. “A more pitiable sight cannot be seen, than a man sunk in poverty and disease, and, at the same time, sunk in the depths of sin.
2. “He has nothing but wretchedness here, and nothing but torment in the world to come!
3. “Oh! that the spirit of grace may lead every such child of woe to that Friend of sinners, whose blood cleanses from all sin, and whose love can rescue the vilest who flee unto him.
4. (Mk 5:3) “Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:” (Sovereign Grace could)
5. (Mk 5:4) “neither could any man tame him.” (This man could!)
6. Notice the legion in (Vr. 9)
-From an old hymnbook.
Legion was my name by nature,
Satan raged within my breast;
Never misery was greater,
Ne'er a sinner more possessed:
Mischievous to all around me,
To myself the greatest foe
Thus I was when Jesus found me,
Filled with madness, sin and woe.
Yet in this forlorn condition
When he came to set me free,
I replied to my Physician,
What have I to do with thee?"
But he would not be contented--
Waits the promise to fulfil;
Had he not my soul prevented,
I had been a sinner still.
"'.Satan, tho' thou fain wouldst have it,
Know, this soul is none of thine,
I have shed my blood to save it,
Now I challenge it for mine;
Tho' it long hath thee resembled,
Henceforth it shall me obey:"
Thus he spoke, while Satan trembled,
Gnash'd his teeth, and fled away.
Thus my franatic soul he headed,
Bids my sins and sorrows cease;
"Take, " said he, "my pardon sealed,
I have sav'd thee, go In peace:"
Rather take me, Lord, to heaven,
Now thy love and grace I know;
Since thou hast my sins forgiven,
Why should I remain below?
"Love," said be, "will sweaten labour
You have something more to do;
Go, and tell your friends and neighbors
What my love hath done for you:
Live to manifest my glory,
Wait for heaven a little space:
Sinners, when they hear thy story,
Will repent and seek my face."
Notice some valuable lessons from this story.
I. THE PATH OF DUTY WHICH JESUS HAS MARKED OUT FOR US MAY BE THE OPPOSITE OF THAT WHICH WE NATURALLY DESIRE.
A. "GO HOME"...(Vr. 19)
1. He probably had not been home in years.
2. Imagine how afraid his family was of him.
B. "GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS"
1. (Prov 16:7) "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be (Friends) at peace with him."
2. Notice his response: "I will follow Thee." (Vr. 17)
a. Notice what Christ said though: "Go" (Vr. 19)
II. HIS OBEDIENCE TO DUTY INSTEAD OF PRIVILEGE TURNED INTO A PRIVILEGE AFTER ALL.(Vr. 20)
Note: He wanted to stay with Christ, but instead he was reunited with his family and also to Christ.
A. IMAGINE IF YOU CAN, HIS GOING HOME.
1. The town people were no doubt afraid of him.
2. His wife and children were afraid of him. (Terrified really)
Ill. No doubt in this state, he probably beat his wife and kids.
3. IMAGINE HIS EXCUSES IF YOU WILL:
Ill: A recently licensed pilot was flying his private plane on a cloudy day. He was not very experienced in instrument landing. When the control tower was to bring him in for a landing, he started thinking of the hills and the towers and buildings in that area and began to get panicky. In a calm but stern voice the command came, "You just obey instructions; we'll take care of the obstructions."
B. HE QUIETLY TURNS TOWARD HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS OR MAYBE YEARS.... (At least as far as he can remember)
1. One of the children sees him coming and bolts the door and sounds the alarm.
2. Another child crys out to Mother, "MAMA, DADDY HAS GOT SOME CLOTHES ON THIS TIME."
3. A third child crys out to Mother, "MAMA, DADDY LOOKS DIFFERENT." (He doesn't look mean like he usually does)
4. Finally, the baby crys, "MAMA, DADDY LOOKS GENTLE; I WANT TO GO AND MEET HIM."
5. Finally, THE MOTHER LOOKS WITH SKEPTICAL UNBELIEF, AND SEES TO HER AMAZEMENT.
a. She sees one that was dead, and is now alive.
b. She sees one that was naked and now clothed.
c. She sees one that was lost and now is found.
d. She sees one that was demon possessed and is now holy, happy and peaceful.
III. TELL THEM HOW GREAT THINGS THE LORD HATH DONE. (Vr. 19)
A. WHAT WAS HE TO TELL?
1. He was to relate his personal experience with Christ the Messiah.
a. Don't try to be a theologian.
Ill. Our five-year-old son some time ago asked me to tell him a story at bedtime. As an experiment I decided to just say words-words chosen so as to make to meaning whatever.
So I started his story thus: "The incorribible juxtaposition is commensurate with the ephemeral consciencetionsness that comes with evanescent trancendence," and so on and on I went with meaningless sentence after sentence filled with just words.
The little fellow listened for about a minute, then burst out, "Ah, Daddy, quit preaching and tell me a story!"
Our preaching should be more like the song:
"Tell me the old, old story,
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
Of Jesus and His love;
Tell me the story simply
As to a little child
For I am weak and weary,
And helpless and defiled."
B. WHY WAS HE TO TELL IT?
1. For the Master's sake and glory.
2. To make others glad and that they might rejoice too. (Acts 1:8)
C. HOW WAS HE TO TELL IT?
1. Truthfully..(When people see the difference; you won't have to say much)
2. Humbly
3. Earnestly
4. Devoutly.
Conclusion: Consider the pitiful way in which the people responded. (Vr. 17)
John Oxenham wrote:
"Rabbi, begone! Thy powers
Bring loss to us and ours.
Our ways are not as Thine.
Thou lovest men, we swine.
Oh, get you hence, Omnipotence,
And take this fool of Thine!
His soul? What care we for his soul?
What good to us that
Thou hast made him whole,
Since we have lost our swine?
1. Notice the results of his changed life. (Vr. 19-21)