Divine Disruption
The reason why Jesus wants to disrupt your life and to disrupt the systems around us is because he desperately wants us to grow. What the world needs now is mature disciples. - Dr. Nicole Massie Martin
Mark 5:1-20
5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had already been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.
14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And then they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the “legion”; and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Him to leave their region. 18 And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
We as humans hate change. We crave security and stability, and we fight for normalcy. While we can live with stability, the only way we can grow is with disruption.
A disruption is any disturbance that alters a process or an event.
Jesus disrupts life as usual by presenting us with life as it could be.
He disrupts our time, our priorities, and our money. The way we think, talk, and act. Our relationships, values, and communities.
The reason why is because He wants you to grow. The world needs mature disciples.
The story of the demoniac in Mark 5 is a story of Jesus disrupting the economic, social, and spiritual status quo. He not only disrupts individuals, but He disrupts systems as well. When He disrupts us, we can never be the same.
What was bound becomes free
Whatever has you bound must be set free when Jesus steps into your life.
The man in the story was bound in every sense of the word
At first physically, but chains could not hold him.
He came out of the cemetery to meet Jesus. He was tormented and broken—spiritually bound.
Your bondage could be relational, physical, or spiritual.
What was divided must become whole
Jesus asks the man his name in verse 9.
Jesus knew that sometimes you have to name things to heal them.
When the Legion left the man, who was once many, it left him as just one. When Jesus spoke to the man, what was divided became one thing.
The enemy likes to keep you confused and divided in your mind so he can distract you. But Jesus has already made us whole.
When you speak the word of God over your life, you experience the division becoming whole.
Examples:
Isaiah 40:31
Psalm 23:1-3a
Romans 8:37
Psalm 61:2
What was considered lost is actually a gain
In verse 17, the people in the community weren’t happy when the pigs went into the water. They didn’t rejoice when the man was made whole.
Jesus knew this man was worth something so he sacrificed the economic and social system so he could save this one man.
The Bible lets us know that Jesus would leave the 99 just to save the one.
He thought you were worth saving.
What was worthless becomes a witness
After Jesus disrupted his life, the man went through the Decapolis (the ten surrounding cities) telling people what Jesus did for him.
He wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus made him a witness.
The pain in your life was God was preparing to make you a witness. The people who saw you bound are the ones who need to see you free.
Reflection Questions:
How has Jesus disrupted your life recently, and in what ways can this disruption lead to personal growth?
Are there areas in your life where you are resisting change and holding onto stability? Why might Jesus be calling you to let go?
How can you identify and name the 'chains' that are binding you, whether they are relational, physical, or spiritual?
How can you use your personal experiences of Jesus' transformation to be a witness to others in your community?