Mark 5 – 6

I have always loved the story that opens chapter 5, with Jesus casting “Legion” from the crazy man in the cemetery. Verse 5:13 points out one of the most telling verses on this story:

Jesus granted the request. The darkness swept up out of the man and into the herd of pigs. And then they thundered down the hill into the water; and there they drowned, all 2,000 of them.

Interesting through this story Jesus addresses and talks with the demons and actually grants their request to go into the herd of pigs. Now the big question is did they go into the pigs and Jesus made them drown or did they make the pigs drown? The end result was amazement, but eventually running Jesus out of town because a large part of their financial holdings were laid to waste. It’s logical that Jesus would not have done this since once the host dies, the demons just move on. Also, the demons knew that the loss of capital would discredit Jesus. The only question is if Jesus knew this why did he allow it?

Verse 5:42 Jesus raises a dead girl:

Immediately the 12-year-old girl opened her eyes, arose, and began to walk. Her parents could not believe their eyes.

The first question I had is why did He only take Peter, James and John? Also, I read this and often wonder why it’s not happening today? Why if we are commissioned to cast our demons and raise the dead is it not happening? I think that is one of the biggest killers of faith today, sure you can talk all you want about God’s providence but when a friends son becomes crippled and no matter how many hands are laid on him, he remains in a wheel chair. This hurts the faithful!

I cannot explain why, I just know life sucks sometimes. At the same time if you watch Wanderlust Productions videos, they follow healers who do actually heal. So it is happening, just not on the scale I think it needs to. But I am not God and therefore know my opinion is just that, mine.

Verse 6:44 has Jesus feed 5000:

That day, 5,000 men ate their fill of the bread when Jesus fed the hungry crowd.

I read this and can’t help but remember the debacle we had a few years back. 12 Stone used the Gwinnett Braves Stadium to “feed the 5000” which brought out many. The traffic jam made the local news and many waited for hours only to be turned away. Why were we not able to feed everyone? That, like healings, becomes a problem with the faith of many.

It hurts my faith often, since it’s very hard to explain. That could lead into a book, or actually has many already. Harold Kusher’s book “When Bad Things Happen To Good People” is a good one to start with. His son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease and this is his walk. Don’t know if it answers all the questions you will ask, but it will help understand the journey we are all in.