The Difference Jesus Makes
Bible Text: Mark 5:1-20 | Preacher: Mark Pickett | Series: Visiting Preachers | Introduction
Example of taxi driver
A story of a troubled man who has an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ
An extra dimension: he was filled with demons
How do we interpret this?
In a psychological way? – a wrong approach
Real spiritual beings that inform a simplistic evangelical approach – a wrong approach
Why did Mark include this story?
Marks is making a special case that Jesus is not just an ordinary man – He has authority
He has authority over evil spiritual beings
This point will help inform our Christian life and outworking
v15 – to see the three changes in his life as a result of his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ
Challenge: have you had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ?
Three things that will happen if you do have an encounter with Jesus Christ
Turmoil into Tranquility
He is now sitting
Previously he was running around, he was expelled from the city
He is at peace:
With other people
No peace in yourself affects relationships with others
This has been the case from the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden
Gen 3:12
We blame other people
People are coming to this man (because he is at peace with God)
With himself
No longer tearing off his chains or cutting himself
Example
The Gadarene demoniac was in a similar state
With God
Ever since the fall people are enemies of God
There is no neutral position before God
We all need to be made right with God
We have peace through ‘justification’ – explanation
Disgrace into Dignity
He is dressed
Previously he was tearing around the tombs stark naked
People were naked in the Garden of Eden but a covering was given to them
Our society is becoming increasingly shame orientated
Not guilt orientated
Body shaming – especially on social media
Affecting a lot of young people today
People can feel like damaged goods
People can feel ‘de-personed’ – Quote from Monica Lewinsky
He felt shame
He was a blight on society
He may have been a foil for others
‘I’m not perfect, but I’m not like them’
Adam and Eve felt shame so covered themselves with fig leaves
God gave them animal skins
Some people feel our shame is self-imposed
We cannot go back to the fall but we can look forward to a day when we will be dressed by God himself
Rev 21:1-2
We can be given the righteousness of Christ for our covering
We can all experience this in our lives
This is the only way to overcome this shame and guilt
This man had experienced a change in his heart
Confusion into Clarity
He is in his right mind
His thinking previously had been false, futile/fruitless, frustrating
False thinking:
Nothing that we think is not affected by sin
Everything we think is affected by sin
Example of Lord of the Rings
This is what it is like for every human being
We are irrational in our thinking – examples
Sin corrupts our thinking
Futile/fruitless thinking:
“As a man thinks, so he is”
Bad thinking leads to bad living
People became depraved
Example of Rome
Example of modern art
Our culture has become corrupted
Frustrating thinking:
Life doesn’t make sense
Personal example
It is often difficult to admit we are on the wrong path
This happens with sin
We have to admit we are on a wrong path and turn around
Example of well known author
Closing Remarks
Challenge: have you met the Lord Jesus Christ?
Example of taxi driver
You too can be changed by Jesus Christ