Jesus and the Cutter

Please take time to read the following story found in Mark 5:1-20 and then let's marvel at some of what it shows us. (I say some for surely there are things that we may miss or overlook.)

"Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He (Jesus) had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."

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There is so much about this story that I love. If you read verse 4:35 you'll see that it was Jesus' idea to cross over to the other side in the boat from where they had been. He knew where He was going and what He was going to be met with. Jesus had a divine appointment with a demon-possessed man and the man most likely had no idea deliverance was even needed or possible.

This man was so plagued with demons that he had been removed from society, deemed not fit to live with and unable to be kept or tamed. He was in pain, tormented in his mind so much that he cut himself, possibly to lessen the pain or as a way to find some small relief from his captivity.

Despite being plagued with demons, despite being a cutter, despite being ostracized by society...WHEN HE SAW JESUS FROM AFAR, HE RAN AND WORSHIPPED HIM!! There weren't enough demons in him or in hell that could keep him from running to the One who had the cure for EVERYTHING that plagued him.

As he was running to Jesus, the demons within him were crying out in fear, wanting to know what they had to do with Him and not wanting to be tormented. How interesting that Satan and his devilish cohorts don't mind to torment us in mind, body and spirit but they, themselves, cry out for mercy in the presence of Jesus, not wanting the same done to them.

Jesus immediately dealt with the problem before Him, telling the unclean spirits to come out! He then asked their name and they had to comply and answered, "Legion, for we are many."

It does not matter how many devils you are fighting within or without. Once you start running to Jesus, He immediately starts cleaning house! Hallelujah!!

Jesus permitted the spirits to invade a herd of swine, who then ran into the ocean and perished. Note the reaction of the people. Once they heard what happened they came out. They saw the man, once possessed, now in his right mind and were afraid. They didn't want Jesus around. They asked Him to leave. Jesus complied with their request.

Let it be known, if you don't want Jesus He will not force Himself on you. He may continue to show His love, His greatness and His power to you through others around you, but He will not force His way into your life. You have the right and the free will to reject Him...but why would you? Oh, if you knew the love and the freedom that awaited you in a life spent with and for Him, you could never turn Him away.

The man set free wanted to go with Jesus, but He told the man, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

Jesus would not permit it because He wanted him to stay in his town and proclaim the message there amongst the people who knew him before he was set free. I wonder what the man thought about that. Would that be tough on him? Sometimes people who have known us the longest, especially before Christ entered the scene, can be the harshest critics. Despite that, the man immediately went and began to proclaim all that Jesus had done for him.

I love that scripture has an answer for everything we face. I love that this story tells us that this man was a cutter and that Jesus had everything he needed to be set free from the cutting and the tormenting spirits.

Jesus desires to have a Divine appointment with each of us. He wants to set us free so that we, too, may go and proclaim all that He has done and all of who He is!

**If you are a cutter or know someone who is, please take them to Mark chapter 5 and share how Jesus set one man free. Let them know that He can set them free as well.**

If you need help, please reach out to a teacher, counselor, pastor, friend, parent or trusted adult to help you navigate your way through your pain and to Jesus. You have value and there is a cure for your pain. Please make sure to reach out TODAY to SOMEONE.

When the New Wears Off

When children are given a new gift, any gift, they love it. They play with it all the time, sometimes proclaiming it is their new favorite toy. Then it happens. It may take a few weeks, a few days or even a few short hours. The new wears off. Suddenly that shiny, new toy is discarded amongst all the other toys that were once their favorite.

That phenomenon is not limited to children. Adults do it, too. Whether it be a new car, new home, new appliance, new clothes, shoes or whatever, the new on it has a shelf life. Look around your home. How many things do you see that the new has long since worn off of? We may have a few truly favorite things that we treasure, but what about the rest of it?

Now think about that task that God called you to do. Did He call you to preach? to teach? to sing? to evangelize? to serve in missions? Yes? Have you ever had days when you felt like the new wore off? Did you ever wonder if you heard Him right? if that task was still the task He was calling you to?

God's callings come in many shapes and forms. Each one is great. Each one is significant. Each one holds eternal value. Maybe your task is to raise your children with love and the knowledge of who Jesus is. Maybe your task is to help feed the hungry or visit the prisoners or minister to the ill and infirmed. Maybe your task is quietly sowing love in everything you do, sharing the salt and the light of the gospel by pure example. Maybe your task is prayer. Maybe your task is to mentor the youth in your neighborhood. Maybe your task is to provide a safe haven for those you find in trouble or distress.

Whatever your task, given by God, sometimes it's going to feel like the new wore off. In fact, you may question everything some days. The great thing about God and His word is that when it feels like the new wore off, and you find yourself in that dark place of wondering and worrying that maybe you missed what He was trying to tell you, take heart!!

Place yourself in His presence. Place yourself in His word and watch Him make all things NEW again. He can stir up your zeal, restore and confirm the vision that He gave you. He will strengthen you, refresh you and comfort you. He will encourage you. You don't have to trudge along with a worn out face, proclaiming like Droopy, "I'm sooo happy."

We don't have the luxury that children have when the new wears off. We can't simply toss God's calling to the side because it lost its shine. We can't hand it to the Lord and demand a new one. We must return to the Lord, fix our eyes on Jesus and when we've done all we can do to stand, then stand some more. Put on the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 and take heart. He makes all things new.

What Do you Want Me to Do For You?

In Mark 10:33-37 we read that Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

Think about this. Immediately after Jesus tells His disciples all that is to come relating to His death and resurrection, the first thing that James and John can think of to ask Him is to have a prominent seat next to Him in glory.

Maybe a modern day translation would read, "Uh, yeah, that's great, Jesus, but do you think that after you die and, you know, get to heaven, we could sit next to you and, uh, help to rule Your kingdom and all?"

Jesus told James and John, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

After Jesus answered them they continued their journey. The story continues in verses 46-50:

“Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

Once again Jesus asked the question, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Bartimaeus asked that he may receive his sight. He sought a need to be met.

Jesus met his need and replied, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Bartimaeus was immediately healed and he followed Jesus on the road.

Note the contrast. James and John both sought to have their desires met. Bartimaeus asked for a need to be met. The question to each was the same. The motives of the hearts were different.

Jesus asks us the same question today, “What do you want Me to do for you?” What is your response? More importantly, what is the motive behind your reply?

May we see Jesus as well as blind Bartimaeus did so long ago, acknowledge Him for who He is and be humble in our requests before Him.