Week 5 | Day 1 | Mark 5:1-13
Pray
Ask God to open your heart to His word today.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Reflection & Questions
The man at the center of this story was possessed by many demons. Imagine being constantly tormented, with no one strong enough to be able to help. We read “he would cry out” in the hills. He was a man with no peace, no future, no hope.
But that changed the day Jesus came to his town. The demons knew their time was up, because they knew Jesus was the “Son of the Most High God.”
It’s not clear why Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs. Perhaps it was to show how much more valuable one human life was? Perhaps to show that spiritual health was more important than physical wealth? Whatever the reason, we once again see how powerful Jesus is! Not even a legion of demons could even challenge Him. There’s power in his beautiful name.
- Is there an area of your life where you are not experiencing peace or hope?
- Name people around you who need the peace and hope in Jesus.
- Which do you value more – spiritual health or physical wealth? How do you know?
Pray
Talk to God about what you read and your answers to the questions. Pray for yourself and those you named for the peace and hope that comes with trusting in Jesus.
Worship Song
In response to today’s reading, you could use this song to worship Jesus:
Bible Reading
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Reflection and Questions
The man that we read about was constantly tormented, with no one strong enough to be able to help him. In our story, we read “he would cry out” in the hills. This man was miserable, and had no hope for a life that was better than the one he was in.
But that changed the day Jesus came to his town! If there was anyone who was going to save him, it was Jesus, the Son of God!
Remember, there is NO ONE, and NOTHING, that is stronger than Jesus is! Jesus has the power to help us overcome anything that we may face, all we need to do is ask Him, and He will always be there for us.
- Have you ever needed Jesus’ help with something? What did you do about it?
Prayer
Pray to God about something in your life that you need His help with, and ask that He shows you the right way to handle it!
Bible Reading
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Devo Focus
Come out of this man, you impure spirit! (Vs 8)
Devo
Sometimes as teens it’s difficult to find peace in this world. You try to find it in friendships, in your family, in the stuff you own and use, but even then it’s not fulfilling. The man at the center of this story was possessed by many demons. Imagine being constantly tormented, with no one strong enough to be able to help. We read “he would cry out” in the hills. He was a man with no peace, no future, no hope. But that changed the day Jesus came to his town. The demons knew their time was up, because they knew Jesus was the “Son of the Most High God.” It’s not clear why Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs. Perhaps it was to show how much more valuable one human life was? Perhaps to show that spiritual health was more important than physical wealth? Whatever the reason, we once again see how powerful Jesus is! Not even a legion of demons could even challenge Him. There’s power in his beautiful name.
- Is there an area of your life where you are not experiencing peace or hope?
- Name people around you who need the peace and hope in Jesus
- Which do you value more – spiritual health or physical wealth? How do you know?
Prayer
Talk to God about what you read and your answers to the questions. Pray for yourself and those you named for the peace and hope that comes with trusting in Jesus.
