David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 5:17

 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

It’s difficult for me to believe that people would not want Jesus around – until I think of Jesus’ presence 24/7/365. That changes things. To have an umbrella of grace and forgiveness when I think I need it, or to be able to call on him in prayer: these are good things. It’s just that there are those other times when I think I can do better without Jesus than I can with him: then I must simply acknowledge the honesty of those who ask Jesus to depart from their region. At least they weren’t trying to schmooze Jesus.

Before you’re too quick to say you would never do that, think of the last time you went through the whole day with a consistant, intentional, and purposeful delight in Jesus’ presence and will. Think of the times when you’ve despaired of God’s grace. Acknowledge the times when you’ve doubted God’s goodness or simply slipped into a mode of being which leaves Jesus out of the equation.

Thank God that there are those times when we have felt the touch of Jesus’ healing hand. We’ve experienced his grace. We’ve encountered the elegance of his wisdom. Our chains of hopelessness or rebellion have been broken. In those moments we are more like the once-demon-possessed man. We really do want to be with Jesus, and have him with us. That is, of course, the better place to be.

The world is hell-bent to leave Jesus behind, sending him away, or trivializing his reign. But those in whose hearts Jesus reigns – even though we are imperfect in keeping him on the throne – represent him well when we tell the people around us what Jesus has done and how he has had mercy on us. There is no better King than he.

Mark 5:13-20

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.

¹⁴ The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. ¹⁷ And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. ¹⁸ As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.