Comments on: Mark 5:1-20 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/08/29/mark-51-20/ reading the bible as a community Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:22:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: richard http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/08/29/mark-51-20/#comment-1959 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:39:30 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/08/29/mark-51-20/#comment-1959 That's a great question Josh and a really hard one. None of my thinking or any of the books I've read give a good answer. At the same time though, even though I don't get the pigs thing, I am impacted in lots of ways by the power of the story. This was one of the few times Jesus visited non Jewish territory (they ate pork) and the guy he helped was therefore probably the first non Jewish person "sent" by Jesus to spread the good news. Two things hit me 1. In parts of my life I am so much like him. I've tried my best chains and ropes to create self control but humanly still break free and hurt myself and others. Part of me is that wretched man living by the (unclean) graves and needing to encounter Jesus and be set free. 2. He didn't have counselling, do an alpha course, pray a prayer of commitment, have a mentor or anything. He just fell at Jesus' feet and next thing he's free, transformed and sent out as a missionary. All those tools are great and usually needed, but God give me faith for the power of "just" meeting Jesus! That’s a great question Josh and a really hard one. None of my thinking or any of the books I’ve read give a good answer.

At the same time though, even though I don’t get the pigs thing, I am impacted in lots of ways by the power of the story. This was one of the few times Jesus visited non Jewish territory (they ate pork) and the guy he helped was therefore probably the first non Jewish person “sent” by Jesus to spread the good news. Two things hit me

1. In parts of my life I am so much like him. I’ve tried my best chains and ropes to create self control but humanly still break free and hurt myself and others. Part of me is that wretched man living by the (unclean) graves and needing to encounter Jesus and be set free.

2. He didn’t have counselling, do an alpha course, pray a prayer of commitment, have a mentor or anything. He just fell at Jesus’ feet and next thing he’s free, transformed and sent out as a missionary. All those tools are great and usually needed, but God give me faith for the power of “just” meeting Jesus!

]]> by: Josh http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/08/29/mark-51-20/#comment-1955 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:55:43 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/08/29/mark-51-20/#comment-1955 Is there significance behind this major exorcism? Fantastic, a man was freed from his demons by Jesus. But couldn't Jesus have expelled them to Hell, or somewhere that wasn't a herd of pigs? The only way i can make sense of it is if Jesus was showing mercy to demons over animals. confusing stuff =s Is there significance behind this major exorcism? Fantastic, a man was freed from his demons by Jesus. But couldn’t Jesus have expelled them to Hell, or somewhere that wasn’t a herd of pigs?

The only way i can make sense of it is if Jesus was showing mercy to demons over animals. confusing stuff =s

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