Mark 5:1-20
Reflect
Set the context of today’s scene by reading the introduction found in Mark 4:35-41. In Scripture the sea is always a motif for evil. So, right on the heels of Jesus going toe to toe with evil and rebuking it to stand down, while the disciples are still chattering about, “Did ya see?…did ya see?”, they get out of the boat and into the battlefield. Jesus knows that His next encounter on shore would be equally, if not more, intense. Many of us have journeyed with the mentally ill, some of us with the spiritually possessed. The volatile combination of both is not to be taken lightly. Following an intense series of encounters, the new disciple desires to be with Jesus. This is the time that many of us would say, “Make room in the boat, this guy has an awesome testimony. What a trophy for our upcoming evangelism weekend event”. Jesus knew what would be best for this man and for the Kingdom of God, and that would be for him to go home and be with his loved ones. Think of Noah, Lot, Rahab, Cornelius, Lydia and the Philippian jailor. Each and every one has a story of how we’ve been restored through Jesus. Your loved ones need to hear this. Go home…
Pastor Dan
Pray
- Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Kenney, Mayor Iveson, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth Ministry Pastor as he is on sabbatical, and his intern Monica Rosvall.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Assistant.
- Pray for all our small group leaders and our Small Group Intern, David Unsworth.