Series: THE ULTIMATE

Part 2 : THE ULTIMATE PICTURE OF RESTORED HOPE”

Mark 5:1-20

Ephesians Chapter 2

Notice some pictures in this story of a person being given ultimate restored hope…

1. A HOPELESS MAN LIVING AMONG THE DEAD.

Mark 5:1-3a - They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. ESV

THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT IS THE EXISTENCE OF ALL WHO ARE WITHOUT SAVING FAITH IN CHRIST - Ephesians 2:1 - “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…” ESV

2. A HOPELESS MAN REJECTING ALL RESTRAINTS.

Mark 5:3b-4 - And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ESV

In similar fashion, people prior to trusting in Christ…or people who have not yet trusted in Christ, reject restraints. Ephesians 2:2 - “…in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - ” ESV

3. A HOPELESS MAN CAUSING HARM TO HIMSELF.

Mark 5:5 - Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. ESV.

Ephesians 2:4 - 3 “…among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ESV

4. A HOPELESS MAN TRANSFORMED BY THE ULTIMATE HOPE.

Mark 5:6-15 - 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8 For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ESV.

The Demons recognize the Authority of Jesus and fall down before Him! (v6)

The Demons know fully Who Jesus Is - “the Son of the Most High God.” (v7a)

The Demons realize Jesus has Total Control over them! (v7b-8)

The Demons must Admit who they are to Jesus! (v9)

The Demons must Obey Jesus! (v10-13)

The Demon Possessed man is TRANSFORMED BY JESUS!!! (v14-15)

Consider the BIG PICTURE…THE FULL STORY!

AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US! Ephesians 2:4-6 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”ESV

5. A HOPEFUL MAN RESTORED AND TELLING OTHERS ABOUT THE ULTIMATE HOPE(v16-20)

Mark 5:16-20 - 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. ESV

Ephesians 2:1-10 - 7 so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ESV

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