Reacting Rightly - Henry Knapp

I get the giggles. Not often, but sometimes I do get the giggles. Not, mind you, a full-blown laugh; I get those as well, but there’s usually an understandable reason for my laughter. But, rarely, I have been known simply to giggle, a small fit of chuckles that rarely mean anything. And, unfortunately, it has been known to happen at the exact, wrong time.

When Kelly and I are discussing something significant, our tone undoubtedly matches that—my guess is that anyone listening in would know when Kel and I are in a serious conversation. But, I can remember at least twice, when, in the middle of a very serious conversation, suddenly… the giggles hit! Out of nowhere, and totally inappropriately, I’m having a very hard time suppressing a meaningless smile and little snorts of laughter. When that has happened, as you can imagine, I do everything I can to contain my reaction, to hide what is happening, since I well know that it doesn’t match what is expected.

It makes sense to expect certain responses to certain events.  If you are at a tear-jerking movie, some sadness is expected; if you are at a party, it is right to be joyful. When the expected response is missing, something is wrong, and we all know it.

What we don’t all know, however, is what the right response is to God’s work in our lives. Or, rather, I should say, we might know the right response, but we’ve become dull to it, so much so that we don’t look for it anymore. Redemption is a big deal. God’s work of salvation in our lives is an immense event. And, a certain response to God’s redemptive work is naturally expected. But, what response should we be looking for?

 A very dramatic story of redemption is recounted for us in Mark 5. Jesus encounters a man who is possessed by demons (a legion of them!), tormented and tortured, he is an outcast in society. While we don’t know specifics, it is easy to imagine the terror this individual evoked in others and which he himself experienced. But, when touched by the ministry, the salvation of Jesus, all things changed. Made new by the Lord, freed from demonic possession, comforted in pain, saved in all possible imaginable ways. An amazing story!

A story which extends beyond the salvation given by Jesus, and includes the response, the appropriate response, of the freed man. In Mark 5, notice the way the man responds to his freedom:

·         In his right mind (“clothed” reflecting that “rightness”) (verse 15)

·         Sitting at Jesus’ feet (verse 15)

·         Begging to be with Jesus always (verse 18)

·         Going forth with the Gospel to others (verse 20)

·         Proclaiming what Jesus has done (verse 20)

All this is in reaction to the salvation he received from Jesus.

 What is the appropriate response? Most of us know when giggling is inappropriate, but do we know how to respond to Jesus? Do we act on that knowledge?

One way—a key way to respond to salvation—is to worship. I invite you again to worship with us this Sunday as we study Mark 5:1-20 together.

1. The action takes place in “the country of the Gerasenes,” which is on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and is Gentile country. What impact might that have on what takes place here?

 2. In what ways does the author describe the demonic possession of the man? How do these indicate the presence of an unclean spirit? What would such look like today?

 3. Why would Jesus ask the spirit’s name (verse 9)? What does this say about Jesus?

 4. The many spirits (Legion) asked to be sent into the pigs (verse 12). Knowing the Jewish relationship with pigs, why might Legion have asked for that? Why would Jesus have granted it? And, then why did Legion run the pigs into the sea to drown (verse 13)?

 5. In verses 14-20, the healed man’s reactions have been noted above. But what about Jesus’ actions? Why does Jesus do what He does, including not allowing the man to come with Him?