Gospel Reflection #88: When we Can't Help Even Ourselves

Mark 5:15. "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid."

There were many in the region of the Gerasa people who were possessed by demons. Jesus commanded the evil spirits, "Get out of this man." Jesus was more powerful than the demons and the demons knew it. So the evil spirits asked Jesus to send them into the swine, and Jesus allowed them to do so. (The demons addressed Jesus, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God." This statement meant that one had spiritual power OVER another if one knew or said their exact name. The full address is not a confession of Jesus’ dignity but a desperate attempt to gain control over him or to render him harmless, in accordance with the common assumption of the period that the use of the precise name of an adversary gave one mastery over him.”)

The man possessed by the evil spirits could not help himself and did not even have the option of asking for help. Jesus never abandoned him. Jesus Himself was involved with the demons. Regardless of his previous accomplishments, Jesus seeks out those in need of healing.

The demon-possessed person could only watch the interaction between Jesus and the demons and what Jesus was doing. And the people around him recognized Jesus before he could announce himself that he had cast out the demons.

We, too, may notice a change in those around us because of what Jesus has done for us. What Jesus has done for us moves us to tell others what Jesus can do. God shows us what He has done for us. In doing so, He tells us, "I am here, right beside you. When we realize this, we become more moved and filled with joy that God is with us than what He has done for us. And instead of keeping that joy to ourselves, we become willing to share it with others, and our joy grows. This is the kind of evangelism that God desires!

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.