In this extensive study of
MARK, I have learned so much -- enjoying the research, leading the class,
participating in the discussions, writing the blog, receiving feedback… Among
the things that brings a smile to my face, gets me excited, is when something
old becomes new, is when reading something over the years suddenly has a twist
I've never seen before, is when an "ah-ha" moment or two surface.
Chapter 5 did that for me on more than one occasion.
The focus in this post
will be on the first ten verses of Chapter 5, followed later by the next ten
verses -- all 20 verses making it a whole. Chapter 5 begins with the ending of
Chapter 4. Jesus and his disciples left Jewish soil and have now landed in
Gentile territory (the majority of the people residing on the other side). They
arrive in the shadows of the night.
As a point of reference,
more than likely they arrived on the eastern shore outside the small town of
Gersa (or Kursi).[i]
Greater meaning for the location / region will be revealed in verse 20.
From the rock hillside of
Gersa in which burial chambers were carved, and from within the tomb, is an
extremely troubled man who like a sailor in a crow's nest (lookout) spots
something hazardous to his very being. Or did he spot something life-saving,
life-changing? Either way, he leaves his rocky domain to see the person(s) who
arrived.
Make no mistake -- say he
was possessed, demented, crazed -- the person living in the tomb has been
ostracized. No one wants anything to do with him -- even though it's obvious
they've tried. Why else would they have previously bound him, chained him,
placed irons on his feet? Given what we know, they've tried everything under
the sun including exorcism. Unsuccessfully. Nothing can subdue him so they've
given up. In return, they hear his torturous cries 24/7.
Wouldn't this troubled
person want the pain and anguish to end? Sounds logical, but how often have we
seen someone going through their own addictions, their own mental illness,
their own troubles, and adamantly refuse assistance, deny help, block out all
attempts to lift them out of the misery? Even when the intensely hurting person
screams for help, they struggle and fight within themselves to remain as they
are. As Gene from the study group stated, "The human side is conflicted
with the unclean part."
How sad though, as Bev
pointed out, this man of many troubles is living separately in his madness.
Moving forward… verses 6-8
gave me pause. I hadn't read it quite this way before. Before you go further
into this blog post, read these verses. Then read them again. Now…
Did You Know…?
Jesus began his ministry
on Jewish soil with an exorcism (Mark 1:21-28), and also began his ministry in
Gentile territory with an exorcism (about to happen). Notice he used commands
in doing so -- not the ritualistic mumbo-jumbo done by others.
So what in the world has
captured my attention in these three verses?
Is it the use of
"Most High God"? Although "an ancient title used by both Jews
and Gentiles to identify the one, true, and living God of Israel and
distinguish him from all false idol gods," [ii] this isn't it.
It's within verse 8. A
very simple word used in the past tense. "Had". Jesus "had"
said to him.
The wounded man rushes
toward Jesus and his crew. Jesus knowing trouble when it approaches exclaims,
"Come out of this man, you impure spirit!"
But wait a second. It
didn't work. It didn't work!
Now before we go assessing
failure and someone accuses me of blasphemy, I believe Jesus knew trouble was
headed his way. He called it out. Yet notice what he called out. "You
impure spirit!" As in one impure spirit.
It is then the afflicted
man falls to his knees and begs Jesus to not torture him. Why would he say this
-- to not torture him? Was it the demon who was spouting out these words? Look
at the singular use of "me." "What do you want with me…?
"…don't torture me!"
My personal take is… this
man has been beaten, abused, tortured, among other things, and probably in the
name of God. He can't take it anymore -- which goes two ways (human
"humane" level and afflicted level). And in all seriousness, whether
we believe in demon possession or not, it doesn't matter. This troubled man
did. It's "his" story. It's his-story as written.
With this… Jesus realizes
he's not dealing with one spirit -- at least in the concern of this man. So he asks
a simple yet important question. "What is your name?" Human concern.
A way to connect on a personal level.
The man's reply makes me
shudder. Seriously. In the shadows of the night, it creeps me out. I would've
been off the shore, in the boat and paddling like there was no tomorrow for the
other side.
"We are Legion."
"We are many." From singular to plural -- "me" to
"we".
Now there are several ways
to look at this reply, in addition to "not send them out of the
area."
* One way… "A legion
was the largest unit of the Roman army, consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers."
[iii] Okay, while the troubled
man may not have 6,000 demons as unwelcome guests residing within him, it's
obvious he's possessed (his belief or otherwise) by many demons -- probably too
many to put a precise number.
* Another way… or in
addition… Palestine is being occupied by Roman troops. Numbers beyond
imagination. Unwelcome guests. Who don't want to leave. You could say the
telling of this story is for those who want to hear that Jesus will deal with
the Romans, the unwelcome occupiers.
It's something to
consider. Two truths. The "me" and the "we." And Jesus is
in the thick of it.
NEXT…
From madness, to sanity;
from joy to terror; unwelcome indeed
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