Mark 5:6-8
You’ve
just concluded a long night of struggling with the sick children. Changing
sheets, PJs, washing bathroom floor,
carpet, yourself, and being generous with the hugs and wet cloths to the
forehead. And then the doorbell rings. At 8:00 on a Saturday morning the
ambitious and pushing college age young man is standing at your door trying to
sell you _______ (you fill in the blank.) Where was he at 2 in the morning when
you really needed an extra pair of hands? This is not what you wanted to happen
before you even had a chance to brew your coffee, let alone drink it.
Life’s
unexpected and often untimely stresses and strains can push even the best of us
to the breaking point. Mine was eight months in Kuwait and Iraq on 2-3 hours of
sleep a night. In some sense I am still trying to recover from that stress even
10 years later.
Jesus
and His disciples have had a rough night battling a storm, preceded by a day
that just plain tuckered Jesus out. And they get out of the boat and the
doorbell rings. The man demanding Jesus’ attention is out of his mind. He is
possessed by demons and has been uncontrollable for some time. The people of
his area have given up on him, and he has given up on himself.
Notice
that he sees Jesus from and distance and comes running. It is not the man in
control, but the demons. Notice that they force the man to fall on his knees
before Jesus, an obvious sign of submission. They know Jesus has the power, and
they don’t. They know they are in danger. They are terrified. They force the man
to scream at the top of his lungs.
Notice
what the demons say about Jesus. He is Son of the Most High God. This title,
Most High God, was a title used by the Jews for the covenant making God of the
Old Testament. It is the superlative form of address. You remember superlative,
good, better, best. The demons recognize that Jesus is the Son of the highest
God there is in the universe. And of course a Son is of the same kind as the
Father, just like your kids are humans (most of the time!)
And
the demons know that Jesus had the power to judge them. They know that when the
LORD’s judgment comes, it means torture to them. They probably learned this in
demon preschool. They know judgment is coming and it won’t be pretty. They see
Jesus and they think Judgment Day has arrived. Or at least their personal
judgment day. And they are scared.
And
all this happens because Jesus is in charge. He begins to tell the demons to
vacate the premises. And what is hilarious is that when they want Jesus to take
an oath with God as the witness that He won’t judge them now. I think they must
have been confused in that moment. They have had this man as their slave for
some period of time. They aren’t used to having anyone challenge their right to
torment him.
Here
Jesus is stretched to the max and another demand comes on Him. He is able in
that moment to speak in His authority and not get flustered by the presence of
this demon possessed man. I am sure we can deal with the diapers with dignity.
Or the last minute deadline at work. Or the guy who just rear ended your car.
The same power that was present with Jesus is present with you.