Good Life Journal – Mark 5

(Jesus healed the demon possessed man.)

2 … a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,

…

15 And (the people) came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

…

18 As (Jesus) was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 … (Jesus) said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

(Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter.)

22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

…

42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

43 And (Jesus) strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus is going throughout the land healing and teaching.

In one encounter, Jesus cast out the demons of a tormented man who had, himself, been cast out of society and living in a graveyard.

In another encounter, Jesus raised from the dead a daughter of someone who was at the center of society, a ruler of the synagogue.

Yet, we have two strikingly different sets of instructions from Jesus on how they should respond to their miracles.

To the man now clean from demon possession, Jesus says to “go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you”.

To the synagogue ruler with a now raised to life daughter, Jesus “strictly” tells him “no one should know this” and “give your daughter something to eat”.

Jesus tells two very different people two very different sets of instructions.

To the person on the periphery of society … literally living among the dead … Jesus says to “go home” and “tell your friends”.

Home? Friends? This man had neither of these.

I think Jesus was being prophetic here.

The man was about to have a place in society again … a home, and friends … it only if he did what Jesus asked of him, (“Tell them the good the Lord has done for him.”)

The man wanted to leave this place and get in the boat with Jesus.

Jesus wouldn’t let him.

Jesus was giving the man more than physical and spiritual healing.

Jesus gave this man an opportunity to be in community again, to be human.

And what was he to do as part of the community?

Share the Good News!

And the people then “marveled” and at a man whom they recently “feared”.

The synagogue leader, on the other hand, was told to stay quiet.

Jesus, no doubt, was Teaching the man something in this, as well.

This man, a synagogue leader, was already at the heart of society.

What did religious leaders need to learn? Humility.

Don’t make this about how special you are.

Your daughter is saved.

Rather than go brag and get more attention for yourself, why don’t you just share a meal with you family.

After the healing of their, her parents were “immediately overcome by amazement”.

That sounds like a good place to start.

Be overcome with amazement at Jesus.

Then share a meal with my family.

Perhaps then I can share the good the lord has done.

Thank you again God for your word.

Help me stay humble in who you are.

Help me no when and how to share the good of what you’ve done for me.

I’m Jesus name,

Amen