Mark 5:1-20
5: 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. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 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. 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.
Reflection
Here Jesus demonstrates his authority over the spiritual and demonic world (Mark 5:1–20). Even the wicked and unseen forces of the universe are ultimately under his power.
It is a great encouragement for followers of Jesus to remember that we serve the Creator of this universe. The power of the eternal Son protects and guides with total reliability, even in times of great distress. Since Jesus has paid the penalty for our sinful rebellion and has overcome the powers of Satan and death, we are in very good hands. Everything that happens to us is under the guidance of our loving Father. He does everything for our good.
2 Corinthians 2:1-11
2: For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Reflection
The Corinthian church is known for being saturated with sin. These sins have caused Paul to graciously delay his coming so that he does not have to arrive with harsh judgment (2 Cor. 2:1–4). In the face of sin, Paul has an abundantly loving attitude (v. 4), which flows from the comfort that he himself has received through the death and resurrection of Christ (1:5).
How should Christians treat a fellow believer who has sinned? The same way we have been treated by Christ. Forgiveness is the unexpected means of breaking the cycle of sin. Comfort is offered to those who are broken with sorrow (2:7). Love is extended so that the guilty party will not be overwhelmed by excessive grief (v. 8).
Even though the church is called to administer consequences for sin (see Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5:3–5), this does not mean that we withhold love and forgiveness. The goal of discipline is to restore people to a healthy relationship with God and others. In the Christian community, sin is never overlooked. Rather, it is directly addressed, acknowledged, and forgiven. In this way, we outwit Satan, who wants us to live in sin, be unforgiving toward one another, and be divided (2 Cor. 2:11).
Psalm 57:1
57: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
How is your patience and love toward those who are struggling with sin? Be sure to pray for those who need to be addressed, and ask God to create in you the same humble, comforting, and forgiving love we see in Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians.