“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.” Mark 5:1-10 NKJV
Most High God,
Right there in the midst of the country of Gadarenes Jesus did not avoid what the crowds must have been wondering about. Jesus meeting with a man they knew was not to be reasoned with. Shackles and chains could not hold him. But this tormented man immediately worshiped Jesus and called Him the Son of the most High God! Nobody could have expected that.
The unclean spirits begged not to be sent out of the country. In Luke 8:31 they begged not to be sent to the abyss. They needed something living to dwell in, so they thought they could prolong their lives by asking to go into the pigs. But they still had to go to the Abyss because the pigs drowned in the lake! (Luke 8:33). Jesus had the last word.
We wonder why there is still so much evil in this world. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons and could control creation. He truly was Your Son, the Son of the Most High God. And we wait eagerly for the day when You will create a new heaven and earth and there will be no more sin and evil. Yet we love all that’s good about creation and mankind. Is that why You delay? Giving opportunities for many more to know You and Your life and hope? We may not know all the times and dates but we know evil. But even if we die before that day – we will see life from the resurrection side!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 26th October 2026
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
and time shall be no more,
and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather
over on the other shore,
and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning
when the dead in Christ shall rise,
and the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather
to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Chorus
Let us labour for the Master
from the dawn till setting sun;
let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over,
and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Chorus twice
Lyrics: James M Black