Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
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The conversion of one of the most miserable and pathetic creatures in all the Holy Scriptures is recorded in Mark 5:1-20 (also Matthew 8:24-34 & Luke 8:26-39). He was a demoniac, a demon-possessed man, of Gadara. In this account we observe:
I. His Miserable Condition Prior to His Conversion (vv.1-5)
1. He was possessed by "an unclean spirit" (v.2a). This "spirit" was a demon, an agent of Satan, and in charge of a "legion" of others (v.9). It was "unclean": evil, morally filthy. This man was under the control of Satan.
Likewise, we all are by nature, that condition in which we were born, under the control of Satan. We were from the womb in "the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:25). We were born under the control of "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all ... conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath"(Ephesians 2:2f; cp. John 8:44).
2. "[He] had his dwelling among the tombs" (v.3a). Among the Old Covenant people of God, he who even came in contact with death was ceremonially unclean, and he who dwelt among the dead was cut off from all the rights and privileges of citizenship (Numbers 19:11-13). This man was living in death.
Our own spiritual condition is, by nature, like his physical condition. From the womb, we are living in death: physically alive but spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). We are therefore morally unclean before God, and cut off from all the rights and privileges of His kingdom.
3. "And no one could bind him, not even with chains" (vv.3b-4a). "He had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces." He was beyond the power of human control.
Our own spiritual condition is, by nature, like his physical condition. We refuse to be controlled by the moral and legal restraints of society, and consider its laws to be binding chains which must be broken.
4. "Neither could anyone tame him" (v.4b). All the efforts society might exert to teach him good manners and proper etiquette were doomed to fail. He was unreformable.
Our own spiritual condition is, by nature, like his physical condition. All the efforts man-made religions might exert to make us moral and acceptable in God's sight are doomed to fail. Besides, God requires in us a total trans-formation, not a mere re-formation (Romans 12:2): "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
5. "And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones" (v.5). He was self-destructive.
Likewise, we who are yet in our natural condition are self-destructive. All who are in sin are doomed for destruction (Romans 3:16): "Destruction and misery are in their ways." And all who refuse to seek the remedy are destroying themselves.
II. The Dynamics of His Conversion (vv.6-8)
1. "But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him" (v.6a).
Another event on that day probably sheds a lot of light on this aspect of this man's conversion. That event is recorded in the preceding passage, Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ... Then [Jesus] arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ... And [the disciples] feared exceedingly, and said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!'"
The terrain around the Sea of Galilee at this place was very mountainous (v.11). And this demoniac was "always, night and day," going up and down "the mountains" (v.5). It is quite reasonable to assume he had witnessed the storm and its miraculous calming by the man in the boat. Surely He who can calm an untamable storm can calm an untamable man. Therefore, "when he saw Jesus from afar" (v.6a):
i. He "ran" to Jesus (v.6b). None can be delivered from the power of Satan except those who come to Jesus. And those who would come to Him "from afar," as this man did, will be most diligent to run to Him.
Have you seen Jesus "from afar"? Have you witnessed His calming power over others in delivering them from the power of Satan? Would you desire Him to do the same for you? Heed his exhortation to "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Do so with all haste! Flee to Christ!
ii. He "worshiped" Jesus (v.6c). He had often run toward others in order to frighten them or to do them bodily harm. But he ran toward Jesus in order to worship Him. He was therefore complying with the divine command "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [or Jehovah], to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10f; cp. Isaiah 45:22f).
Have you worshiped Jesus as did this demoniac? Or is he, in his deranged condition, more obedient to God than you are?
2. "[Jesus] said to him, 'Come out of the man, unclean spirit'" (v.8). With this command, Jesus exorcised the unclean spirit from the demoniac. With the departure of the unclean spirit, so departed from him also his moral filthiness! He was cleansed.
Note well that Jesus here commanded the demon. And note also the lamentation of the demon to Jesus (v.7): "And he cried out with a loud voice and said, 'What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.'"
This lamentation of the demon is very revealing.
i. Demons acknowledge the existence of God. This agrees with the declaration of James to professing believers, "You believe that there is one God. ... Even the demons believe --and tremble" (James 2:19). ii. Demons acknowledge the deity of Christ --that He is the Son of God, therefore God the Son. They therefore confess to Him, "I know who You are -- the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:23f).
iii. Demons acknowledge the future damnation of the wicked at the hand of Jesus. They are well aware that He will at the final judgment condemn the wicked to "the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). This demon therefore implored, "Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
Will you, O man, acknowledge any less?
III. The Results of His Conversion (vv.15,18-20)
1. He was "sitting, clothed, and in his right mind" (v.15). What a transformation!
i. He who formerly was "driven by the demon into the wilderness" (Luke 8:29) was now "sitting" -- like Mary of Bethany, "who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (Luke 10:37).
ii. He who formerly "wore no clothes" (Luke 8:27) was now "clothed." He was physically clothed, because the transformed are modest in appearance. And he was spiritually clothed in "the garments of salvation, ... the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). He had by faith in Christ been clothed in the imputed righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9). iii. He who formerly was out of his mind was now "in his right mind."
2. "He who had been demon-possessed begged Jesus that he might be with Him" (v.18). It is only natural that those who are under the control of Satan would not want to be with Jesus. But it is also natural that those who have been delivered from the power of Satan would want to be nowhere else than with Jesus. "However, Jesus did not permit him [at least for the present], but said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you'" (v.19).
3. "And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him" (v.20).
i. He proclaimed the deity of Christ: "what great things the Lord has done" are "all that Jesus had done."
ii. He proclaimed the glory of Christ alone. Vain religionists boast of "all that I have done for Jesus." The true convert boasts of "all that Jesus has done for me."
Here is good news for the most miserable sinners! Do you believe it? Or are you yet under the control of Satan?
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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