Friday, October 21
Jesus the disrupter
Scripture: Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm 121, Mark 5
Mark 5:14–17 The men who tended the pigs ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
Observation
Jesus arrived on the other side of Galilee, a Gentile region, and was met by a demonized man who had terrorized the community for years. People wanted him controlled, but no one was strong enough to subdue him. Then Jesus ordered the demons out and restored the man to sanity and society. The demons entered a large herd of pigs, most likely belonging to the whole community, and they all drowned in the lake, another evidence of the self-destructive intentions of the demons.
When all this was reported in town, people came out to see. They saw the former maniac clothed and in his right mind…and dead pigs floating everywhere. They were afraid and begged Jesus to leave! Why?
Jesus had disrupted the status quo. As terrible as the madman had been, they had managed…for years. They’d grown comfortable with the craziness and found the change fearful. And Jesus’ actions resulted in a huge financial loss for all of them. Follow the money. They’d rather have their herd of pigs and demonized terror than have a man, sane and free, and no pigs. What else might happen if He sticks around? “You’ve caused enough disruption; please leave.”
Application
Jesus is a disrupter, a change agent. When He shows up, wrongs get made right. People change, and communities are affected—always for the better, though not without cost.
I remember when I was in high school, my father complained that the church had stolen his kids. We’d come to Jesus and it disrupted our family—for the better, although my dad didn’t see it that way at the time.
Jesus is a disrupter. When you follow Him, expect things to change, starting with you. If you’re looking to protect the status quo, don’t look to Jesus. This can be scary. Change brings uncertainty. But Jesus is a disrupter for good—it’s always worth it!
Prayer: Lord, I want to follow no matter where You lead. I imagine there is some status quo in my life You may disrupt. It makes me uneasy…but I’m committed to follow and embrace the change, knowing it’s always for good!