130106 It Ain't Over

Before you read much about what I have to say, read the following passage – a funny, yet incredible story about Jesus on the other side of the lake…

Mark 5:1-20 (NLT)

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.  Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him.  With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”  For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”  Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.  “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”

So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened.  A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.   Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs.  And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him.  But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”  So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, CT.  In one day, this sleepy small town most people had never heard of became familiar to everyone in the US, and in other parts of the world as well.  While the headlines and politics have focused on gun control, the story is much more about mental illness.

The man in the story above was undoubtedly one who suffered from mental illness.  Schizophrenia, perhaps?  Hard to be sure.  Primitive minds, however, upon witnessing such a mental breakdown would naturally assume possession by an evil spirit.  The guy was not under his own control any more.  He needed help that nobody had to give.  The community did what comes naturally: they isolated him.

Mental illness causes a similar reaction to this day.  We don’t know how best to respond to people who struggle mentally and emotionally.  We play it safe, too, and keep people at a distance.  It is impossible to understand what leads to mental illness.  Genetics?  Trauma of some sort?  Both?

What’s your experience with this kind of stuff?  How have you encountered people who struggle with mental illness?  What was your reaction?

Whatever was the case for this guy, his brokenness was not helped by his being ostracized by the people he knew.  His paranoia certainly only increased, as did his rage over his predicament.

Jesus found out the hard way, as the guy ran out to meet him.  Jesus did not get back in the boat.  He did not cower.  He did not order his disciples to hold him down.  He just met him there, found out some key things about his struggle, and brought grace. 

How are you like this guy?  How have you struggled with your brokenness?  How have you been isolated by your community?

When the guy found himself made whole by Jesus, his immediate reaction, as we might guess, was total allegiance.  But going back to Galilee wouldn’t accomplish near as much as walking around the Ten Towns would, letting everyone know how he got his health back.

How have you experienced healing from God?  How has God come alongside you in your struggle?  When he was there, how did you respond?  How have you shared the message of hope that God actually cares?

The response of the crowd is interesting, isn’t it?  They would have rather had Jesus gone.  They were terrified of him.  Odd.  But sometimes we are more afraid of an unknown future than we are our present circumstances.  We would rather manage our bad reality than risk on a new one.

How has this been true for you?

C.S.Lewis once said, It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.  We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea.  We are far too easily pleased.

How about we make a move in response to this passage.  How about we decide to trust God with our wellbeing now, our relationships today, our vocations, and even our emotional health as much as we trust God for our inevitable Tomorrow?  Why not trust this Jesus with your allegiance and see where it takes you?  Would the one who brings such healing lead you to misery?

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the new year.

- Anonymous (from Red Letter Christian weekly newsletter)