Mark 5:1-20
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
MK 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
MK 5:9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
MK 5:11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
MK 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
MK 5:18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Such change greeted the residents of the Gerasenes the instant Jesus set foot on their shores – their herd of 2000+ pigs were drowned, leaving them to find replacements, while a screaming suicidal crazy man was transformed into a demure civilized gentleman. They, being Gentiles and it being near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, hardly knew who this person was, and why he had alighted on their side of the lake. But someone who brings un-understood and sudden change is always looked distrustfully upon, especially in this case where this person threatened their livelihood and unnaturally cured a madman. With defensive mechanisms up, they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region, and leave them alone.
This natural defensive mechanism happens in us as well, whether or not we consciously want it. It’s a way to cocoon ourselves in our comfortable worlds, making it resistant to change. But what are we really afraid of? What does Jesus want to do in my life that makes me afraid?
Change is really hard to stomach sometimes. You can see it coming, but yet you try to steer away from it, or resist it. Sometimes it works, but mostly it’s just a temporary measure. Change inevitably happens, and resistance is futile. Resistance against God is futile and pig-headed and painful, and yet I still resist. What I need is an open mind, ready to receive anything that God gives me and anything that happens, and still be at peace with it.
I choose to let God work in and through me.
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