April 29-May3

And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. - Mark 5:2-4 ESV

Jesus Can Set You Free
Have you ever watched a dog that is chained? Have you ever noticed how hard he tries to go a little farther, but the chain always stops him at the same place, never letting him go farther and experience more? I notice this when people take their dogs on a walk. They leash them and sometimes use chains to keep the dog from going anywhere other than where the owner wants the dog to go. The dog really has no freedom outside a 3-foot radius. (Andy Clapp)

In Mark 5, Jesus sets a man free. Jesus moves into a new set of impossible situations in Mark 5. He encounters a demon-possessed man. This man was possessed by thousands of demons. He could not help himself and the people around him were helpless as well. Jesus delivers this man from a hopeless case of spiritual possession and bondage. As we watch the Lord deliver this poor soul, we need to keep in mind that He can move in our lives with the same power. He can break the chains that bind us and He can set us free!

Reflection
We can’t change anyone the way Jesus can change them. In what ways has Jesus set you free?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for giving you freedom in Christ. Pray God will set anyone free you know that is in bondage to sin.

Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. - Mark 5:5 ESV

Jesus Can Conquer Your Enemies: Isolation
As his UCLA football team suffered through a poor season in the early 1970s, head coach Pepper Rodgers came under intense criticism and pressure from alumni and fans. Things got so bad, he remembers with a smile, that friends became hard to find. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers says of that year. “I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends—and she bought me another dog.” (Today in the Word)

The demon-possessed man lived in unclean tombs in isolation. Christ came to the demoniacs, who men would not dare go near! Jesus is in close proximity to tombs and swine, both of which were considered unclean by the Jews! Jewish ceremonialism was no hindrance for Jesus Who "came to seek and to save that which was lost." This is a dramatic illustration of Jesus' compassion and heart for the lost, no matter how deplorable their condition!

Reflection
Jesus is called a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When have you experienced Jesus as a friend when you felt all alone?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for His promise to never leave you and never forsake you. Ask God to fill the void anywhere you are feeling isolated.

And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. - Mark 5:6 ESV

Jesus Can Conquer Your Enemies: Desperation
(CNN) A US Navy and Coast Guard operation on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, rescued three mariners stranded on a tiny Pacific Ocean islet for more than a week after the trio spelled out “HELP” using palm fronds laid on a white-sand beach. The men were on a fishing trip in the remote area when rough swells resulted in engine damage, ultimately beaching them on the island. Matters went from bad to worse when their radio batteries died before they could put out a mayday.

They'd apparently watched enough TV or movies to know their next best move was to use palm branches to spell out the word "HELP" on the sandy shore. They had no idea if anyone would ever see their desperate plea. But they hoped and waited. For the next week, they survived on coconut meat and water from an old well they found on the tiny island — just 31 acres of land in the middle of the massive Pacific Ocean.

In Mark 5:6, the demon-possessed man is desperate for help. The demons are desperate for Jesus to show mercy and the demon-possed man is desperate to be set free. The creature recognizes the Creator (and Judge), something sadly most of the Jews failed to recognize. Interestingly, he ran toward Jesus and not away from Him, even though he knew the power that Jesus wielded over him.

Reflection
Have you ever cried out to Jesus, "I'm here! Help me!"? It is when we are most desperate for Him that we are most open to His power and rescue.

Praise/Prayer
Thank God for always hearing your cries of desperation. Pray your lost family and friends will grow desperate for freedom in Christ.

And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” - Mark 5:7-8 ESV

Jesus Can Change Your Life: Confrontation
French novelist and playwright Alexandre Dumas once had a heated quarrel with a rising young politician. The argument became so intense that a duel was inevitable. Since both men were superb shots they decided to draw lots, the loser agreeing to shoot himself. Dumas lost. Pistol in hand, he withdrew in silent dignity to another room, closing the door behind him. The rest of the company waited in gloomy suspense for the shot that would end his career. It rang out at last. His friends ran to the door, opened it, and found Dumas, smoking revolver in hand. “Gentlemen, a most regrettable thing has happened,” he announced. “I missed.” (Today in the Word)

Jesus never misses an enemy of God. Jesus confronted the “unclean spirit” in the demon-possed man and simply commanded him to come out. This is a reminder of Jesus’ absolute power over Satan and demons. There was a “legion” of demons that Jesus confronted and commanded every one of them to go.

Reflection
What do you believe is the biggest spiritual challenge you face on a regular basis? Do you believe Jesus has the power to deal with any opponent you face?

Praise/Prayer
Praise Jesus for having all authority and all power in heaven and on earth. Confess your trust in His ability to defeat any spiritual enemies you face.

And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. - Mark 5:19-29 ESV

Jesus Can Change Your Life: Transformation
A young woman, excited about her salvation, wanted to share the gospel with others, so she asked her pastor where she might go to serve most effectively. He told her to come back the next day and he would have an answer ready for her. When she returned to his office at the specified time, the pastor handed her a folded slip of paper. "I'm suggesting someone who needs you right now more than anyone else in all the world," he said. The young woman quickly left the pastor's study, eager to read where her mission field might be. When she opened the note, she saw that the pastor had written two words: "Your father." She had been so enthusiastic about reaching the lost in dis­tant lands that she had neglected someone close to home. Like charity, missions must always begin at home. (R. W De Haan. Our Daily Bread)

Jesus sent the healed man home to show them the change God made in his life. Everyone undoubtedly knew the "before" condition of this man, so that the "after" would present a striking contrast. Jesus changed him. No longer is he running around, crying out, and cutting himself. Now, he is calm and seated beside Jesus! What a change! Jesus clothed him. Jesus calmed him. And he became committed to telling others.  

Reflection
What are some of the ways Jesus has transformed your life? What are some areas that still need transforming?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the changes He has made in your life. Ask God to use you as an example of what He can do when someone trusts in Him.