"When All Appeared Lost ... the Boat Arrived" - Mark 5:1-20

Finally Jesus and his disciples made it to the other side (the eastern side) of the Lake of Galilee in their boat. You might remember that in the previous passage, the disciples had freaked because of the wind and the waves that were rocking the boat, fearing that they would die. This story indicated the difficulty of crossing over into unknown territory, to take on some of the adventures that God is calling his followers into. It was only the presence of Jesus in the boat that addressed the fears and calmed the waves, allowing the journey to continue. Jesus challenged the disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith”? On the positive side, this challenge of Jesus didn’t lead the disciples to abandon ship into the now calm water. Rather, the awe that they expressed concerning Jesus, led them to stay on board and continue to the other side. These Jewish men, possibly still somewhat reluctantly, headed toward Gentile territory with Jesus.

When they arrived, their fears became understandable. Immediately danger presented itself! They were confronted by one of the most troubling and difficult situations imaginable. Here was a man who was overrun by evil (as we have it here – tormented by a multitude of evil spirits and living amongst the dead). Going ashore on the other side, these Jews were confronted with things that their worst inhibitions were made out of: the ritual uncleanness of a man living among the tombs, together with the presence of thousands of pigs, and then there was the very mention of the unclean spirits’ collective name “Legion” with its connection to Roman oppression (“legion” being a military term – designating in Roman terms a brigade of some 6,000 soldiers). These disciples went with Jesus on mission … and this was certainly going to be a cross-cultural and uncomfortable experience. But this is what mission is about according to the New Testament, even if you only cross one little lake or narrow road.

This man’s life was a living death. All appeared lost. What ever could be done! Who knows what his background was, what had led up to his pitiful state; but certainly his present was diabolical. This was someone who we might now understand as mentally and emotionally disturbed, his mind being in a terrible state of torment; he was living on the streets, completely isolated from mainstream society. He was physically powerful, yet in a state of hopelessness! The citizens had tried in vain to shackle and restrain this man, possibly thinking they were helping him (and themselves). This poor man continued to be in agony, evidenced by his constant howling and by engaging in self-harm. His humanity was being destroyed.

This is sometimes what we face when we travel to the other side. It might not be this bad most of the time, albeit still challenging. But maybe sometimes this level of despair doesn’t really touch us because we have preferred to stay in the boat rather than stepping out onto the shore on the other side. I wonder if anyone saw the pictures of Tim Costello in the Age on Monday morning having returned from Burma. His face of anguish and tears certainly portrayed someone who had been to the other side.

This was the disciples’ first journey with Jesus into Gentile territory, and it couldn’t have been much more challenging or difficult than this. But they were with Jesus, and being with Jesus, there was going to be a way forward in ministry, there would be a solution. As we travel through life with Jesus, we will be able to offer appropriate and helpful measures of assistance and hope to those around us. Jesus is reaching out to hurting people through us.

It was difficult to tell where the evil influences stopped and the heart of this oppressed man began. At verse 6 his ranting and raving stopped at the sight of Jesus – he wanted to bow in reverence before Jesus – he seemed to be looking for help, but his mouth spat out words that came from somewhere else! Sometimes it’s hard for us to see beyond all sorts of behaviours to appreciate the real person. However, following Jesus’ ministry to this man, we get a vivid picture of what he was and could be without the oppressive forces being upon him. Following the encounter with Jesus (v.15, 18, 20), he was in his right mind, adequately clothed, expressed a desire to follow Jesus, and successfully witnessed about what Jesus had done for him).

This man had previously been carrying pain like a hundred kilo sack. When the evil was released from the man and sent into the swine, it was so powerful that it drowned 2,000 pigs. Imagine being under this much pressure. People in our society find themselves under a great deal of pressure, and many of them break under it. How would it be to try to live under the sort of oppression that would drown 2,000 pigs? Yet Jesus can and will bring release, and chooses to work his power and influence to heal through us.

As we see in verses 6-12, the evil itself within this man did not want to be exorcised out of him – there was resistance – evil had made itself comfortable within this man. Yet such darkness still recognised the light of Jesus, correctly interpreted the presence of God, and understood that it was at a disadvantage (v.6-7). Interesting words here: “What have you to do with me Jesus?” or this question could be translated: “What do you want with me Jesus”, or: Why are you interfering with me Jesus?” or again: What do we have in common [you and I] Jesus?” … as if the two opposing poles of evil and righteousness could never interact, or as if Jesus would avoid or ignore evil and let it run its course [in people’s lives]. As if!!

We know that Jesus came into the world to destroy the power of evil over people’s lives and give them freedom. This was about to be displayed for all to see! The “Legion” of evil did come to see the threat, and begged not to be harmed by Jesus. It would fight for its existence. Yet, as we see here, the presence of Jesus was too much for it, and this infiltration of evil in the man’s life was dispensed with. He was free to be his own person again, and re-enter normal human relations. Do I hear any cheering?!? Here, evil was dealt with at close quarters. This narrative is all about the liberating power of Jesus offered to all humankind. Jesus can not only calm the fearful waves, but also deal with the demonic forces that defy all human control (as “Legion” defied all human attempts to shackle and restrain – v.4).

Some have wondered here about the poor pigs. But we must see beyond this to the deeper meaning. Jesus dealt with all the obstacles that faced mission to the other side as each presented itself, one being any jaundiced perception of gentile impurity. Gentile soil would be now ripe for mission (in Mark’s gospel). The deliverance of one poor man now becomes the potential for deliverance of a whole needy land. Mark’s mainly gentile Christian community in Rome would know that the gospel was just as much for them as for the Jews.

As a footnote to this incident, we can see that even though Jesus was so successful in his one-off ministry in this place, things didn’t get automatically easier. Instead of generally flocking to Jesus (and his disciples) the people of that place were afraid and actually begged Jesus to leave their neighbourhood (v.17). This ‘ministry to the other side’ business is a long-term prospect. People find it hard to accept something that is new and radical – they tend to distrust it and fear it. Actually the very thing that will be the most help is often doubted and mistrusted until it proves itself on a number of occasions and in a variety of ways. There will be joys and blessings along the way, but there will need to be a serious investment of time and effort to make a real impact. Jesus will later take his disciples back to the other side.

The formerly oppressed man wanted to join Jesus and travel around with the disciples, but Jesus left him behind to share his new found faith with all his own people. Who better to share with Gentiles of the “Decapolis” region, than a home-town boy who had experienced Jesus in the most dramatic of ways!