Mark 5

Mark 5:5 NIV
[5] Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

I pray daily for those that suffer from mental illness. Not to equate mental illness with demon possession but this verse made me think about the suffering happening today. Mental illness seems so widespread these days. It is difficult for me to understand what those who suffer from any mental illness are going through so all I can do is support and pray. Please join me in praying for those who suffer.

Mark 5:18-19 NIV
[18] As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. [19] Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

What a simple command: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…”. Simple, yes, but sometimes so hard to do. We risk humiliation and ostracism if our people are not believers. I hope that I am sharing with you how much the lord has done for me.

Mark 5:25-29 NIV
[25] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. [26] She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. [27] When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, [28] because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” [29] Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

According to the law, this women touching Jesus would make him unclean. Yet what happens is Jesus makes her clean. Amazing what faith she has and that touching Jesus clothes heals her. He does not have to say a thing. I am reading a book that points out that only Jesus is referred to as “the power of God.” This power heals if only we believe.