Good Morning All,
Mark
5: 2-3; “And when Jesus
had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind
him anymore, not even with a chain,”
This is another story about Jesus when he heals a
man who is possessed by demons. Jesus
drives the demons out of the man and cast them into a herd of pigs which
promptly run off a cliff into the sea.
The man who was possessed by the demons was cured. He no longer lived among the tombs. When the people from the local village came
to see him, he was dressed normal and acted normal and spoke normally. Everyone was astounded.
For many of us in this the 21st
century, demon possession seems a little strange, perhaps even bizarre. I have been asked if I believe in these
possessions; yes, I do. Do they happen
today? Perhaps. Just because we have
different names for the events, does not change the pain involved. The people at the time of Jesus may have
called them demons while we call them schizophrenia or bi-polar or Asperger’s
syndrome or any one of a number of other ailments and problems; they all mean
pain to the person who suffers from them.
This man may have even been clinically
depressed. I have talked with people who
have experienced these conditions and others like it. They often describe feeling like they are
possessed by something or someone as they do not feel they control their own
actions or thoughts. What they describe
sounds scary and full of pain much like the life of the people who the Bible
describes as being possessed.
Perhaps there have been times when you felt
like you were “living in the tombs” more afraid of life than looking forward to
it. Perhaps there have been dark times
for you to overcome. Those dark times
can cause a lot of pain and even feel like someone, or something is controlling
you. You may be feeling that right
now. If you are, know that God loves you
and wants to help. First and foremost,
call someone. Call your doctor or a
counsellor or your minister but call someone and get professional help. This is one of God’s tools in caring for you. Secondly, pray for God’s guidance and
assistance. Third, talk with those close
to you; they love you and care for you, let them in.
There will be dark and painful times in
this life because the world is still broken by sin. Yet we are never alone, and we never have to
face this world alone. God is there with
us and loves us and will protect us from the devil’s arrows. We need to use the tools he gives us in this
battle. Trust in God’s mercy to sustain
you. Hold onto his love for you and he
will free you from the pain that possesses you.
Father, there are times when the darkness seems too great. It is at these times when I need your grace
to bring me out of the tombs of despair.
Be with those who are still hurting and living among the tombs of
despair. Give them your healing
touch. Bring them to the light of your
love. In Jesus’ precious name we pray,
amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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