Lessons
from a Madman"
The amazing record of the miraculous
conversion of one solitary man found in Mark 5:1-20 provides multiple truths to
the Twenty First Century Christian. This story greatly illuminates the loving,
compassionate heart of Jesus, who went to the distant Gentile shore of Lake
Galilee to deliver a maniac from the ruthless clutches of a "legion of
demons". Yes, a multitude of Satan's emissaries held this man captive
causing certain attitudes and actions that can be seen in present day men and
women who also are influenced/possessed of the devil just as this maniac of
long ago.
Jesus' bold and unusual rescue of this
one man might be one of the most profound miracles of His earthly ministry.
Bold because He went to the distant, barren, wilderness-like Gentile shore of
Galilee which is bordered by a rugged shoreline of cliffs where the dead were
buried in natural caves used as tombs. Bold because of the demeanor, dress,
attitude and actions of this maniac who rushed "out of the tombs"
naked, crying out, and bleeding from his self-inflicted wounds. The boldness of
Jesus the Blessed Son of God who was fully man, God in the flesh, was certainly
evident.
Unusual because of Jesus' special trip
into Gentile territory for the saving of this one solitary soul. When
accomplished, He immediately boarded the ship and returned to His familiar area
of ministry in the land of Israel. Unusual because Jesus demonstrates His
omniscience openly when He, the Creator, seeks out His "creature",
this miserable, demon possessed madman, on a mission of mercy for this one
single soul! Unusual, because Jesus
reveals His miraculous power over the past events of this man's horrid demon
possession, delivering him who once could only cry out and cut himself with
stones, a man truly spiritually and physically tortured by the devil!
The life and lessons of this maniac can
be divided up into three areas: First, through much of his past he is
Struggling with Satan. Mark's record of this man's struggle is the most
complete although Matthew 8 and Luke 8 add certain significant details. His
struggle with the "legion" or multitude of demons includes the full
range of the devil's influence and is typical of his influence over men and
women of today.
The first attitude/action seen is his
affinity for death/the dead or departed spirits. In his demon-possessed
condition he is comfortable living in the very tombs of the dead. In todays
rock culture this same attitude/action is evident. Death, suicide, and the
things related to this morbid subject are very popular with those associated
with certain types of rock music. "Death Rock" abounds in the
sub-cultures of those who are influenced and possessed of the devil. It is not
an unusual occurrence to hear of those who supposedly commune with the spirits
of the dead just as the "witch of Endor" brought up Samuel for Saul
in I Samuel 28:3-20. Although this wicked Satanic activity is found written in
the Scripture it is soundly condemned and forbidden by God. (Exodus 22:18;
Leviticus 19:31,20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10)
The second attitude/action shown by
this maniac was his unusual strength. "No man could bind him, no, not with
chains. Because he had often been bound with fetters (manacles, hand-cuffs) and
chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken
in pieces: neither could any man tame him."(v.4) This unusual, supernatural strength was not
generated by him alone, no, it was the supernatural power of one who was given
over to full demonic possession. This, too, can be found among those today who
give themselves to the devil for his use. The devil has power to duplicate many
of the miracles wrought by God. Just as Samson broke the "fetters of
brass" by the supernatural power of God (Judges 16:21) this madman
employed the supernatural power of Satan to do the same.
When ministering in a prison during my
years in Bible school, I personally encountered a former wizard, a male witch,
who had been saved just a few weeks earlier. His account of casting spells and
exerting influence over people were testimony to Satan's power. After his
salvation in prison many of his former followers tried to get control of his
Satanic paraphanalia, robe, jewels, spell-casting literature etc. but, he
wisely destroyed all that pertained to his past Satanic activity. The
supernatural power of the devil must not be viewed as something from the past and
not really relevant in our present day for this devaluating emphasis is the
very work of Satan himself!
The third action of this demoniac is his
continual "crying" (v.5). This refers to animal-like screams,
shouting and yelling with unearthly noises induced by his spiritual tormentors.
This type of conduct is also manifested by those today who are saturated with
the devil's drugs, alcohol, and music. I can give personal testimony to this as
I too was rescued by Jesus out of a lifestyle that included much of what is
written in this passage. This screaming and crying out is not unusual among
those who are addicted to the torturous master and his mind-altering substances,
the devil himself! Expressing their
anger and rage, their frustations, their uncontrollable desires with such
outbursts is not "out of the ordinary" in the surroundings of those
who are controlled by the devil’s wicked
spirit!
Next, the demoniac was "always,
night and day...cutting himself with stones"(v.5). Self-inflicted wounds
is common among many of todays young people who are influenced with the devil's
way of thinking. The ultimate self-inflicted wound is suicide which today, is
the number one killer among teens in the U.S.A.! Self-inflicted wounds are seen
in Elijah's day as a way of appeasing Baal, the Satanic god of his time (I
Kings 18:28), so this type of conduct should not be thought of as unusual in
our day if one gives himself over to worshipping the devil by bringing themself
under his influence through music, drugs or any other substance. So who is
being appeased, worshipped and exalted when someone commits suicide? Who? It's
Satan himself who is worshipped, and he glories in this not too uncommon waste
of God's gift of life!
The maniac continues in his demonic
conduct when "he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried
with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus thou Son of the
Most High God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not."(v.7) In this instance his schizophrenic or split
personality was demonstrated when at one moment he bowed down and worshipped
Jesus, and the next moment he adjured Jesus and made the demonic statement
"What have I to do with Thee". This double-mindedness or
schizophrenia is common with someone who is controlled by Satan. Wanting in his
own mind to worship Jesus, but the demon speaking out of him claims no part of
the Son of God!
This condition is diagnosed every day
in psychiatry and psychology as a "mental disorder" or "mental
illness" or an "emotional problem". But, in many cases that are
relegated to mental institutions the real diagnosis is demonic possession! Satan rules in the majority of these so
called institutions where men, women and children are bound physically and
spiritually by the "Father of lies", the devil himself. This demoniac
in Mark 5 would have been committed to one of the government mental
institutions if he lived in the Twenty-first century, and today they are filled
with people just like him, people that Jesus could rescue if only He was given
the opportunity.
Well, let us look at this man's final
demonic trait, immoral conduct, yes, this man literally ran around the countryside
naked! Luke 8:27 tells us he "ware
no clothes". This too is an illustration of demonic influence, and so too
we see in today's society the desire to uncover the body. We must recognize who
is at the root of this type of forbidden activity. The children of Israel when
Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments fell into idol worship of the Golden
Calf, but, they also were involved in an orgy-like atmosphere involving open
nakedness, which is the direct result of demonic influence.(Exodus 32:25)
The open attitude of immorality
certainly has reached epidemic proportions in our own country during the last
few decades. What you had to pay to see illegally behind closed doors twenty
years ago is now flaunted openly in the streets of America, a certain sign of
the coming judgment upon this country much like the great wickedness of Sodom
and Gomorrah in the day that God's judgment fell upon them!
The second area of this maniac's life
is his Surrendering to the Saviour. In the midst of his suffering Jesus comes
on the scene and the maniac is afforded by the grace of God a moment in time
when he is able to fall down before Jesus and worship Him recognizing He was
his only hope. Jesus commanded the demons to come out of him and the struggle
for his soul continued when the demons bartered with Jesus concerning their
next location or residence. He allowed them to enter into the swine and the
rest is history!
Concerning the maniac's salvation, the
Scripture says: "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped
Him"(v.6). His recognition of Jesus
is clear, his response of worship, surrendering himself to Jesus is obvious.
The outcome of his surrender is a completely changed man! The one that was
possesed with the devil is now "sitting and clothed and in his right
mind"(v.15).
The complete change is overwhelming!
This is the perfect picture of salvation according to the Bible! II Corinthians 5:17 tells us: "If any
man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all
things are become new." This maniac, this madman is immediately turned
into a missionary for Christ! All things
became new! What a transformation! Nowhere in the New Testament is such a
complete turning around, such a wholesale change, the miraculous transforming
power of the Lord Jesus Christ seen except for possibly the conversion of the
Apostle Paul in Acts 9.
And now the final act of this man's
Biblical history gives us the example we all must imitate. His only request was
"that he might be with Jesus". If only we had this same desire to be
with the Saviour continually. This
introduces the last area of the former maniac's life when he is seen Submitting
Self for Service. He now becomes the successful missionary. Jesus told him to
"Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done
for thee and hath had compassion on thee."(v.19)
Obedience was his simple response. No
argument, he just "departed and began to publish in Decapolis (ten cities)
how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did
marvel."(v.20) Jesus was Lord of
his life! He submits himself to serve
the Living Saviour, his testimony was more powerful, more fruitful for the
Kingdom of God than being physically with Jesus could ever be! His testimony ministry in those ten cities
that knew of his former condition was more powerful than any time he would have
spent in the physical presence of Jesus, and Jesus Who is God in the flesh knew
what the outcome would be if only this formerly uncontrollable maniac would
obey His simple command, and obey he did!
Simple childlike obedience gave this
new creature in Christ a powerful testimony ministry! Are you saved? The most
valuable thing you own is your testimony! You too could have a powerful
testimony ministry if you obey the simple principles seen in his response to
the Lord:
1. Demonstrate a changed life [Sitting, clothed, in his
right mind] (v.15)
2. Desire to be with Jesus (v.18)
3. Go to those who knew you (v.19)
4. Emphasize Jesus’ Compassion (v.19)
5. Simply Obey His Voice (v.20)
6. Speak the Word (v.20)
7. Glorify the Lord Jesus (v.20)
ALL WILL MARVEL!!
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