JP3 When theres no way out
(S1) When There’s No Way Out
Mark 5:1-20
Gateway Baptist Church – 10/19/2008 – AM
As we look around our world today there is no shortage of problems people face in their lives. Personal issues, work, finances, and world events – the list is nearly endless.
The world loves to think that they have the solutions to every problem out there, but many times the solutions offered are temporary Band-Aids at best and usually end up leaving the person worse off than they were in the beginning. This leads many people to believe that there are issues they face in life that are beyond anyone’s capability to address so they assume “that’s the way life is” and suffer torment as a result.
This morning I want to state without any hesitation that there is a solution to everything wrong in this world and His name is Jesus Christ! Let’s look at one “hopeless case” that Jesus provided the ultimate hope for and how this hope was seen by those around Him!
I. A person in serious need of help! (S2 – Mark 5:1-5)
A. Wow. Looking back over the last two weeks the people Jesus ministered to (Nicodemus, a religious Jew, and the Woman at the well, a despised Samaritan) seem like they didn’t have it all that bad!
B. This man is truly at the bottom of the barrel. Not only is he possessed by demons, he has been cast out by society and now lives among the tombs crying and mutilating himself!
C. He is an unusual case, but think about the number of people who share in the hopelessness of this man, even though they may express their despair in a more socially acceptable way!
II. A Savior who has the solution! (S3 – Mark 5:6-7)
A. We have pointed out the heart of love that Jesus displayed to Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. Here we see that same concern!
B. When the people of the world looked at this man they saw someone who was utterly repulsive. He was terrifying to most and repulsive to the rest.
C. When Jesus looked on the man He saw something others missed. He saw the man that He had come to save. The man that God loved as much as any other. The man who was overwhelmed by problems, but still precious to Him! (S4 – Mark 5:8-9)
D. Jesus came to touch the untouchable! (S5 – Mark 2:17)
E. Jesus addressed this man’s real need and gave him new hope! (S6 – Mark 5:10-13)
III. A world who didn’t understand!
A. Some were appalled! (S7 – Mark 5:14)
1. When the swine herders’ lives were changed by Jesus, they were appalled. They were taken aback. They were offended.
2. Their own income was taken away, and they could have cared less about the poor man just healed of demonic possession. They only cared about themselves. They were simply appalled by the change Jesus brought to their lives.
3. Imagine you are Bob the Plumber (who is not a plumber) out on a job and your truck is parked by the street when you see Jesus talking with a homeless man. Suddenly Jesus turns toward your truck and it bursts into flames and ends up nothing more than a pile of ashes. How happy would you be at that moment?
4. Many people will not receive Christ because of the changes He may send their way. We hear it in their rejections all the time. We hear people say:
• I’ll just have to give up all my fun.
• What will my family think?
• I’ll lose my job! (How like these swine herders!)
5. Others are incredulous that it is possible that someone might be changed by a Jesus they cannot see. They think it is ridiculous, uneducated, foolish, and childish to trust in Jesus Christ, and they are appalled when others do.
B. Some were afraid! (S8 – Mark 5:15-17)
1. This verse always makes me chuckle a bit! The people look at two men sitting down, clothed and having a pleasant conversation and they are afraid!
2. Why would they be afraid? Because they knew the threat that the maniac had posed and were accustomed to dealing with him. Jesus was another story all together!
3. Jesus presented a whole new dynamic to the situation. His display of power over the demons and His ability to do what no one else ever could was terrifying!
4. People are afraid of many things: (S9 – Phobias) Phobia – “an irrational or unexplainable fear”
· Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people.
· Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.
· Phobophobia: fear of getting a phobia.
· (S10 - Theophobia:) fear of God or Religion
5. Fear is a very destructive force. Satan knows that. He is trying to strike fear into the hearts of mankind everywhere. Fear is the opposite of faith. (S11 – Mark 4:40)
C. One was appreciative! (S12 – Mark 5:18)
1. Looking from the perspective of the demoniac, one would think that he would be appreciative. He had nothing to lose, had just gained everything, and with nowhere to go, may as well have followed Christ.
2. But Jesus had another mission for him! (S13 – Mark 5:19) To tell the whole nation about what had just happened to him. He was so glad, so thrilled, so different because of Christ that anything Jesus wanted him to do he did so joyfully, enthusiastically, and diligently.
3. I’ve often wondered why the church is growing increasingly silent about the change that Jesus offers to all who come to Him.
· Perhaps it is because too many have come to the church for comfort, not change.
· Perhaps too many have come to the church for acceptance, not change.
· Perhaps they have grown used to it. I believe that if the stars would only come out once a year, the world would all be watching on that night. But since they come out every night, few bother to take the time to enjoy them at all.
· Jesus’ changes in our lives are profound. And they are life-changing, deep, and eternal. (S14 – Romans 8:35-39)
D. Some were admiring! (S15 – Mark 5:20)
1. When the man told everyone everywhere what Jesus had done, they all marveled. It does not say that they were changed.
2. They admired what had happened, and they admired the man who had done it. In all their amazement, they remained unchanged. They did not come to Jesus. They were not saved.
3. Jesus’ famous words to Thomas in the upper room after His resurrection might have applied to them. (S16 – John 20:29) But we are not told that they believed.
4. Everyone in this generation has to believe rather than see. We might see the results of the wind. We might see the results of Christ. We believe rather the wind than the Savior. Too many are unchanged.
5. Are you changed today? Or do you simply admire those who are faithful? Have you ever only wished your faith would rise to their? Have you ever admired the heroes of the faith? Don’t simply admire them. Trust the Savior that changed them to change you. Trust Him today.
Jesus Christ has brought you here today to be changed. Your life will be changed upside down from what you are used to, but it will be set right side up as it should be. He will give you a new life, free from the oppression of fear, loneliness, and insecurity that Satan gives, and replace that with companionship, courage, and confidence in the living Christ. Who Jesus sets free, they are free indeed. Will you be free?
How will you respond to the change that Christ offers? Are you appalled by the thought? Are you afraid to come to Him and let Him change you? Are you willing to give Him everything to be changed by Him? Or will you simply sit there amazed that He would do that at all to anyone, while you remain unchanged?