When the Man Comes Around
I like that song, When the Man Comes Around (https://youtu.be/k9IfHDi-2EA), by Johnny Cash. It talks about the second coming of the Lord. But I want to write a little about His past visit and His ongoing visits in our lives (because He never really left).
Mark, in his gospel, tells about many times when Jesus appears on the scene in people's lives. Take for example the account of the flooding boat (Mark 4:35-41). I have discussed this particular account in greater detail before, but here I would like to point out the disciples' reaction to Jesus’ calming of the storm. Mark says they were filled with “great fear” and said “Who then is this…?”
Then there is the account of Jesus showing up in the tombs with that demoniac (fancy word for dude possessed). Mark tells us about this account in the 5th chapter of his gospel. Starting at the top, Jesus and the disciples get across the Sea of Galilee and show up in Gerasenes. The demoniac man comes out and Jesus frees him of his assaulters by sending the demons into 2000 pigs that end up running straight off a cliff into the water. Now look at the villagers’ reaction to Jesus. Mark says they “begged Jesus to depart their region.” (5:17) No care for the freed man. Just get out of here, Jesus.
Ah, but in the same account look at the response of the previously demon terrorized man. Mark tells us in verse 18 that as Jesus was getting back in the boat to leave, the man begged that “he might be with him [Jesus]”. Now that is a guy that knows what’s good for him.
The final account we’ll look at is the situation with Jairus’s daughter. Jairus was a ruler in the local synagogue whose daughter was dying of an illness. He “implored” Jesus to go with him to his home so that his daughter might be healed. Well as the account goes on we see Jesus being delayed by crowds and a woman is healed by touching Jesus' robe and Jairus’ servant catches up with them to let Jairus know that Jesus is not needed any longer. His daughter had died. Jesus was not dissuaded however and proceeded to encourage Jairus as they walked on toward the house. Now in verses 38 through 40, Mark explains that when Jairus and Jesus arrived at the house the mourners were already in a full lather. Weeping and wailing abounded. But Jesus asked them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping?” He then told them that the girl was not dead which garnered the response I want us to look at. Mark says, “And they laughed at Him.”
So here it is: When Jesus shows up in our lives we will have a response for Him. In fact, you have likely already responded to Jesus when He showed up. When Jesus comes in and does things, not like we want but rather as they must be done, we will respond. When He shows up and stills the storm by commanding into submission that which we consider to naturally be unsubmittable, we will likely freak just as the disciples did. When Jesus comes in and completely rearranges our lives as the villagers experienced with their entire livelihood running off the side of a cliff, we may ask Him politely to leave. When the Lord enters our lives and tells us that we do not understand. When He says that what seems so obviously the case in our own eyes, that which from our own expertise and experience is undeniable so, is in fact not so, we may let a laugh slip out.
Bottom line: Jesus does not do things the way we think they need be done. His directive is absolutely NOT to fit in our little box. Jesus works to the Glory of the Father and if that means confusing you or even making you angry, get ready to be pissed off. My recommendation is to follow the demoniac. If He has saved you, always remember that Jesus freed you from a burden that you could not carry. Let your reaction to Jesus working in your life be yes and Amen and beg to stay with Him.