A Man Tormented, Yet Not Destroyed

In the narrative in Mark 5, we meet a man in crisis, whose life is in shambles.

A legion of demons inhabited him,
   driving him away from family,
      away from friends,
         away from everyone,
            out into the tombs.

He had grown progressively stronger.
   The people had tried many times to restrain him,
      fearing his strength and troubled by his cries.

They sought protection from him, and in pity,
   tried to offer him some protection from himself
      since he practiced self-mutilation.

So they bound him with twine ... he broke it.
   He grew stronger.

They bound him with rope ... he broke it.

   He grew stronger. 


They bound him with a chain ... he broke it.

   He grew stronger.


They bound him with chains and clamped his feet in iron.

   He grew stronger and tore them apart.

No one was strong enough to subdue and
   nothing could restrain him.
      What was the point in trying?

         So they left him alone.

The human mind, soul and spirit was incapable
   of withstanding the demonic habitation,
      nor was it strong enough to resist the
         sociopathic, psychopathic, self-destructive behavior.


Yet for all his torment, the man was still under some degree of protection;
   the demons could not kill him,
      as in Job 1 and 2, God placed limits on Satan's activity.
         His life was preserved that God's glory and power would be revealed
            and manifested, displayed in the sight of all people.

His spirit and soul longed for freedom from that which possessed him,
   that which bound his spirit, crippled his mind, and tortured his soul,
      from that which was bent upon, yet kept from, his destruction.

An external power, greater than the internal powers that inhabited and bound him,
   was all that could bring freedom; One who could come,
      bind the strong man and steal his possessions.

And so Jesus came into this tormented man's life,
   binding the powers that once bound him,
      preventing any further harm,
         stealing this man from their realm of influence.

Jesus sent the legion of demons into a herd of pigs,
   which were quickly destroyed,
      as the demons accomplished their goal, destruction,
         what they had long desired to do, and tried to do,
            but could not do, to the man.

In four events within 24 (or maybe 48) hours,
   Jesus demonstrated authority and power
      over nature as he calmed a storm,
         over demons and evil spirits as he freed this man,
            over illness as he healed the woman from her bleeding,
               over death as he raised Jairus' daughter to life.

These events Mark recorded remind us that Jesus is stronger
   than all the forces at work in the world.
      As John later wrote,
         "Greater is He (Christ) who is in you than he who is in the world."

Father, help us lean upon Your power and the completed work of Christ,
recognizing that we are powerless to fight any of these battles on our own.
We are weak; You are strong. Sustain us.

Meditation on Job 1:12; 2:6; Mark 4:35-5:43; Luke 11:21-22; 1 John 4:4

April 11, 2012

Wisdom and Temptation

We are a people obsessed with wisdom. We think it holds the answers.
We learn nothing from Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.
Solomon indulged his mind, heart, eyes and body, claiming to be guided by wisdom.
He pursued many sins, sating all his desires, yet was left empty and unfulfilled.

Wisdom has only one role in helping us relative to temptation:
     Counseling us to avoid it.

We choose whether to listen to the voice of wisdom ...
      or not.
Like the young man in Proverbs 7, we may choose to go places where sin abounds.
We may think our wisdom will protect us.

Paul is clear, though, about the futility of wisdom in restraining sensual indulgence.
Overcoming sin and temptation is a matter of power and authority,
      God's authority through Christ's victory on the cross,
              not our wisdom, resolve and strength of mind or will.

Only Christ can take our thoughts captive, provide a way out and
rescue us as we submit ourselves to Him and share in His death.

Meditations on Ecclesiastes 2:1-14; Proverbs 7; Colossians 2:20-23;
1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

April 10, 2012