Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Friday, March 13, 2020

Theme: COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF MARK CHAPTERS 1-6

Text:  “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” – Mark 5:19.

Comment: When the Lord came to the country of the Gadarenes, said to be close to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, there ran to him a man possessed by demons. He dwelt in the mountains and in the caves and tombs, screaming and cutting himself with stones. The demons pleaded with Christ not to torment them but to send them into a herd of swine nearby. (Mark 5:12) The swine or pig is an unclean animal to the Jews. (Leviticus 11:7) Because the stock-in-trade of the devil is to destroy, the demons drowned the poor creatures, 2000 of them, in the river. Instead of bowing in honour of Jehovah who had through Jesus Christ demonstrated His Almightiness, the  gentile people begged Christ to leave their coasts. But one man’s life is of more value than so many herds of swine. (Compare Matthew 10:30, 31) The man who had been healed was so full of joy that he wanted to devote himself fully to the work of God but Christ did not allow him. He enjoined him to go to his people and tell them how God had shown mercy on him, as in the text for today. The devil goes about seeking whom to devour. But through the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be freed from satan’s captivity. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.” – Psalm 79:11. See also Luke 4:18.

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