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Past Ponderings

Monday, November 6, 2017

PONDERING... A Few Quick Questions from Mark 5-6:6

A Few Quick Questions from Mark 5-6:6 (PM Lesson Outline)

Tonight is a prayer meeting night. Nonetheless, in the interest of consistency, I wanted to take just a few minutes (and I really mean that :P) to respond to a couple questions often raised about Mark 5-6:6. Since we took a more holistic look at this passage, I didn’t want to leave anything out (and I know you guys well enough to know you’re thinking about these...or if you’re not, I chewed on them quite a bit the last two weeks).
Ok...super quick notes...go!*

1. DID THIS DEMON DISOBEY JESUS BY NOT COMING OUT? 5:7-8
No. Fell prostrate begging. Jesus likely allowed him to talk to for the benefit of those around Him.

2. WHAT’S UP WITH THE PIGS? Mark 5:11-13
Why cast the demons into them in the first place? Why let them die? First, it is important note, this was not the focus for Mark, nor was it likely noticed by the earliest readers. Nonetheless, it is striking to modern ears, so we should hit on it briefly. Honestly, I read up on this a lot and found no better articulated answer than this one from A Ransom for Many:
-“Firstly, it is not yet time for the powers of evil to be destroyed. Defeated and driven out, yes; but in God’s master plan, Satan and his forces still remain at large for a little longer. So the demons are allowed to continue their destructive work, but this man himself will no longer be their victim. In God’s sight, one man is worth far more than two thousand pigs. Secondly, Jesus wants to give a dramatic visual demonstration of the reality and strength of these demonic powers. ‘Legion’ has been freed from a whole army of evil spirits. They were intent on destroying the man just as they have now destroyed a whole herd of animals. This is what demons are: they are chaos monsters. Look what happens, Jesus is saying, when they get to work.”

3. WHY WAS ONE TOLD TO GO AND TELL, ONE TOLD TO SAY NOTHING, AND ONE GIVEN NEITHER INSTRUCTION?  Mark 5:19, 5:34, 5:43
We’ve talked about this one before, and there have been several options presented. Here’s the highlights.
1- Different physical location. Gentile VS Jewish community= different expectations. The Jews saw the miracles as a sign from God...but took Him to be another great prophet. Likewise, the rulers in these areas were already seeking to kill Him, and it was not yet time for Him to be arrested. The Gentile communities were pagan, so would have associated this power with divinity. They needed to see who the REAL GOD is.
2- Difference in message. Life transformation VS healing miracle. PLUS, few were visibly demon possessed, but everyone dies (think of the mobs if everyone brought their dead!).

4. IS JESUS SURPRISED BY THE UNBELIEF OF HIS HOMETOWN? Mark 6:6
Two points.
1- Jesus is fully God and fully man, so there were things He kept from Himself. We see this expressed in the Gospels. For example, God knows when He is coming back, but Jesus does not while on earth (Mark 13:32). So, it may be a similar scenario.
2- Either way, even with prior knowledge, that they did not believe in the face of such evidence is astonishing. I think this is the emphasis regardless.

*These notes are bare-bones. If you have further questions, please contact me directly...and I’ll send you to one of my smart friends. (Chris Myers, be ready for some phone calls!)


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