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Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 106

1 Peter 4:3 "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles..."

Day 106 – Mark 5

THE PLIGHT OF THE DEMON-POSSESSED

Mark carefully noted that on occasions, Jesus encountered those who were possessed by demons. Careful notation was made about a man at Capernaum, who had an unclean spirit in Him. On seeing Jesus, the demon shrieked,

“Let us alone! What have we to do with You,
Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us?
I know who You are- the Holy One of God!”
MARK 1:24

The conclusion of this confrontation was predictable. With a word, Jesus cast out the demon from the poor man! The multitude picked up on this and cried out,

“What is this? What new doctrine is this?
For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits,
and they obey Him.”
MARK 1:27

The text reflects that the kind of power exhibited by Jesus was most uncommon. Hitherto, anyone who had the misfortune of being possessed by demons, without the powerful help of the Lord Jesus, his fate would have been a terrible one!

MINISTRY IN GADARA

Multitudes followed Jesus wherever He went. It was a difficult ministry, for many were not only spiritually blind, but also obdurate in heart! The typical daily ministry of Jesus included at least three elements.

1. The preaching/teaching of the word

2. The healing of the sick

3. The casting out of demons

On one occasion, the disciples must have been puzzled as to why He left a thriving ministry to minister in Gadara.

“Then they came to the other side of the sea,
to the country of the Gadarenes.”
MARK 5:1

On arrival, a strange encounter took place. There were no crowds at Gadara. No welcome committee met Him. Instead, Jesus was confronted by a crazed demon-possessed person.

“And when He 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.”
MARK 5:2-3