Numbers 9-11 Mark 5:1-20

“The man shouted in a loud voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I command you in God’s name not to torture me!’ He said this because Jesus was saying to him, ‘You evil spirit, come out of the man.’” (Mark 5:7-8 NCV)

Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to be met by a man who was demon-possessed. This guy was bad. He’d been run out of town and lived in the caves by a graveyard. He was constantly self-harming, to use today’s terminology. People tried to tie him up, even going so far as using chains to bind him, and he freed himself from anything they did. I can’t help but wonder if people tried to chain him down to protect him from himself as much as to protect themselves. The demons, for we find out that there are many inside him, are bold, going so far as to command Jesus to leave them alone. Yet Jesus continued the exorcism. As the story continues, we see “Legion” negotiating with Jesus, saying, in effect, “don’t destroy us, send us to those pigs.” Jesus did that, and the demons destroyed themselves and the pigs.

Everywhere that Jesus went, He ran into people that were sick, or hurting, or demon-possessed. Some people recognized instinctively who Jesus was; perhaps the demons who possessed others sought to challenge Jesus. Either way, people knew that Jesus was available to help them. You’d think He’d get tired of always needing to deal with health, spiritual, and financial problems. You’d think He’d get tired of having His times alone with the Father interrupted. If He was, He didn’t show it. He ministered to people in their needs. That’s our call as well. Times have changed, and we are called to seek people out who need an experience with God. Our attitude needs to be, “If seek we must, seek we will.” Hurting people don’t always let us know their needs. We need to love them so much, that we can tell. Ask God to give you discernment so that you can help hurting people.

Lord, there are so many invisible people nursing hidden hurts. Give me wisdom and guidance to minister to them in Your name.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.