Jesus comes to save and shows the mercy of the Lord in action. How different is your life because the Lord had compassion on you and called you to faith? The angel Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream and gave him insight into what the Messiah would do.
Matthew 1:20As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” [1] The very mission of Jesus is to save us because we cannot save ourselves from sin. The coming of Jesus is a great act of God’s love that is beyond our comprehension.
Jesus Came to Save the Man who was Demon Possessed
Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee to the Gentile area of the Gerasenes, where a demon-possessed man lived in the tombs. As Jesus climbed out of the boat, the demonic, controlled by a legion of demons, came to meet Him.
Mark 5:6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” [2]
For a time, these demons may have controlled this man, but Jesus came to set this captive free! Mark 5:15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.[3]
Jesus Clothes Us in Righteousness
This demon-possessed man did not know Jesus and was far from God, but no one is too far to be reached by Jesus! This man was demon-possessed and a madman until he met Jesus. He was naked. Now he is clothed with the new self because he has come to know Jesus as his Savior. His old life has been left behind.
When the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us, the old has gone, and the new has come. Ephesians 4:22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Just as Jesus came to give the demon-possessed man new life, this is what the Lord does for us as we come to know Jesus. When we know Jesus, he transforms us. Think of this man. If he can be transformed, so can you!
To hear more on how Jesus comes to save, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-demons-tolerated-jesus-rejected
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
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Great word Pastor Tom, we are grateful for the transforming work of Jesus which every person so desperately needs in their lives.