Scripture Reading : Mark 5:1-20
Theme : Jesus Casts Out a Legion of Demons
- Severe Possession. The man who was possessed by demons was in dire straits, because the demons caused him great physical harm. The reason that Jesus asked the demon for its name is not because He needed to be informed, but it was for the people to see the severity of the possession. This is not a demon-casting formula for us to follow. The Bible does not tell us how the man became possessed by so many demons, and any explanation would just be speculations.
- Son’s Permission. The demons recognized that Jesus is “Son of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7). They were powerless before Jesus, and needed His permission to do anything. Without Jesus’ permission, they could neither speak nor act. When the people saw that the man was healed, they did not praise God, but wanted Jesus to depart. It is likely that they focused more on the financial loss suffered by the death of the pigs, than to see their fellow countryman healed.
- Salvation and Proclamation. The man who was healed clearly knew that if not for Jesus, he would be doomed. He wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus had a different plan for him – he was to return home and evangelize to his friends. The man gladly submitted to God’s will and returned home to proclaim Jesus.
Praying the Scripture
- Many situations recorded in Scripture are not meant to be experienced by us, but there are still lessons to be learned. Unbelievers who become Christians may not experience such drastic changes as having a legion of demons cast out of them, but there is still much to thank God for saving them from the depths of hell. Let us thank God for saving us from the eternal fire of hell.
- The people focused more on their financial loss than the salvation of a man, and they rejected Jesus. In contrast, the angels rejoice over the repentance of one sinner (Luke 15:10). Jesus also taught that if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul, it is the most serious mistake (Mark 8:36-37). Let us pray that we will not love the world and its riches and sacrifice our souls.
- The man who was saved submitted to God’s will to proclaim the Gospel to his friends. Sometimes, we think of doing big things for God by preaching great sermons bringing about great revivals, but what God really wants is that we preach the Gospel to people around us. If all Christians will preach the Gospel to their friends, the Gospel will reach the ends of the earth in no time. Let us pray that we are willing to preach the Gospel to our friends and wherever we go.
经文：马可福音5:1-20
主题：耶稣赶走一群魔鬼
- 严重的附身。被众魔鬼附身的男子遭遇非常严重，因为魔鬼对他造成的肉身伤害极大。耶稣问魔鬼其名的原因并非想得知祂不已经晓得的信息，而是要让众人知道这附身的严重性。这也不是让我们遵循的赶鬼模式。圣经并没告诉我们男子是如何被群鬼附的，所以任何解释也只属猜测。
- 圣子的准许。魔鬼认出耶稣就是“至高神的儿子”（7节）。他们在耶稣面前是无助的，必须经祂同意才能行事。只要耶稣不许，他们是不能说话或做事的。当众人看到男子得医治后，他们并没赞美神，而是要耶稣离开。这很可能是因为他们看重的是猪群之死所带来的财物损失，而不是他们的同乡复原了。
- 得救与传道。得医治的男子显然晓得若不是耶稣，他必死无疑。他想跟从耶稣，但耶稣对他的意念有别——他当回家向他的亲友传福音。那人乐意地降服于神的旨意，回家传扬耶稣去了。
用经文祷告
- 经文记载的众多情况不是我们能经历的，但从中有功课可学。成为基督徒的非信徒或许不用经历一群鬼从他们身上被赶出，但他们仍有许多感恩之处，因为神从地狱的深渊救了他们。让我们感谢神救我们脱离地狱的永火。
- 村里的人看重的是他们财务上的损失过于那人得救，而他们拒绝耶稣。相反的，天使为一个罪人的悔改大大欢喜（路15:10）。耶稣也曾教导：人就是赚得全世界，但赔上自己的生命，那是最大的错误（8:36-37）。让我们祷告我们不会爱世界及其富裕，将自己的灵魂牺牲了。
- 得救的男子顺服了神的旨意，向亲属传扬福音。有时，我们想为神做大事，要传大道，起大复兴，但神渴望的却是我们向身边的人传福音。若所有信徒会向他们的亲属传福音，福音就会急速地传遍全地。让我们祷告我们会乐意向亲友传福音，并到何处也如此。
