Andrew Page

Speaker and Author

Mark 5: 1-20 – The Unlimited Power of Jesus

Introduction

Why we need to preach the Gospels.

This passage is part of a block of 4 miracles.

4: 35-41
The Stilling of the Storm

5: 1-20   
The Driving out of Legion

5: 24-34
The Healing of a Woman

5: 21-43
The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter

And what do they have in common?

See 3:22, 4:1-34 and 4:41

And let’s be talking to the Lord.

A.      The man obeys the evil spirit (1-5).

• A terrible description of suffering
• Two extremes to avoid
• This is what evil wants to do in our lives (5)

B.      The evil spirit obeys Jesus (6-13).

• The evil spirit knows who Jesus is (6-7).
• Compare James 2: 19
• Then the evil spirit starts to negotiate with Jesus! (9-13).
• There are questions here we cannot answer.
• But one thing is very clear: the evil spirit has to obey Jesus.

C.      Jesus obeys the people (14-18).

• What the people see (14-15).
• What the people say (16-17).
• And Jesus obeys them! (18a).
• If we keep asking Jesus to go away…

D.     The man obeys Jesus (18-20)

• What this man wants more than anything else (18).
• What Jesus tells him to do (19).
• Why?
• And the man obeys Jesus (20) – willingly!
• Look at what he does (Compare 19 with 20).
• This is the biggest miracle in the whole passage.

Conclusion

• Jesus has limitless power
• And he is calling us to live lives of love and obedience

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© Andrew Page 2004