Jesus Calms the Storms Inside and Out: RRE 45
Religion Ruins Everything Daily 10.25.16 from One Life Network on Vimeo.
[35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” [39] And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” [41] And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 4:35–41 ESV
[1] They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. [2] And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. [3] He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, [4] for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. [6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. [7] And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” [8] For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” [9] And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” [10] And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, [12] and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” [13] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
Mark 5:1–13 ESV
Jesus and the disciples set off on a long journey by boat across the sea of Galilee. The storm that came up is not just a thunderstorm, but hurricane force wind and waves that strikes deadly fear into experienced fishermen. They despaired and feared for their lives.
After Jesus calmed the storm, they had a new kind of terror. “Who is this man that even the wind and the waves obey him?” They had seen Jesus heal sick people and feed people, but they never imagined that He had power over the most terrifying thing they could imagine: the weather.
When they came upon the shore, there was a different kind of storm. They were greeted by a storm in a man’s life. This man was captive to demons and sin but nothing could hold him. He couldn’t be held by chains and he couldn’t be civilized enough to keep his clothes on. The only thing that held him was a legion of demons. He lived out in a graveyard because he was more comfortable with death than life. He couldn’t be around civilized people.
Many considered this man too wicked to be saved, but Jesus talked to him and even asked for his name. When the demons said their name was legion, Jesus and the disciples would immediately associate that with the 6,000 roman soldiers that were called a “Legion.” Again, the disciples were probably afraid, and again, Jesus brought peace.
Ordered away by the townspeople, Jesus left the man there to tell his story. Unafraid to cross the the sea to talk to one untouchable person, Jesus left the man there with a new hope and new freedom. We never have to be afraid to go out of our way to talk to someone that seems too wicked to be saved.