Today's Scripture
Change in Worship – Mark 5:1-20
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Isaiah 17-19; Mark 5:1-20(CEB)
Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs. 3 This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain. 4 He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one was tough enough to control him. 5 Night and day in the tombs and the hills, he would howl and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him, 7 shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!”
8 He said this because Jesus had already commanded him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”
9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
He responded, “Legion is my name, because we are many.”
10 They pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of that region.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. 12 “Send us into the pigs!” they begged. “Let us go into the pigs!” 13 Jesus gave them permission, so the unclean spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.
14 Those who tended the pigs ran away and told the story in the city and in the countryside. People came to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who used to be demon-possessed. They saw the very man who had been filled with many demons sitting there fully dressed and completely sane, and they were filled with awe. 16 Those who had actually seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man told the others about the pigs. 17 Then they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region.
18 While he was climbing into the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed pleaded with Jesus to let him come along as one of his disciples. 19 But Jesus wouldn’t allow it. “Go home to your own people,” Jesus said, “and tell them what the Lord has done for you and how he has shown you mercy.” 20 The man went away and began to proclaim in the Ten Cities all that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.
What does this passage mean to me/us
When the man with impure spirit ‘ran and knelt down’ before Jesus, it was worship motivated out of fear.
He shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!”
If our worship is motivated by fear, thinking that we come and kneel down to God hoping that nothing bad will happen in our lives, how different is our worship from this man?
At the same time, we see the love of Jesus, continuing to touch this man with unpure spirit. Jesus heals him and this man’s motivation for worship changes. His reason for worship changes to a desire to follow Jesus.
“While he (Jesus) was climbing into the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed pleaded with Jesus to let him come along as one of his disciples.” Even though Jesus commissioned him to his home town, I believe he continued his worship with a desire to follow.
Therefore we ask, is our heart of worship motivated by fear or a desire to follow God’s way?
It is okay to come to Jesus either way. It is more important that we came, and when we come, we will see how Jesus touches and transforms our lives.
Prayer
Lord, we come and kneel in front of you our Lord, Touch us and restore us for your glory. In Christ name, we pray, AMEN.
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