When you hear the word chaos what comes to mind?

• Disorder
• Confusion
• Mayhem

Perhaps circumstances such as a raging tornado, the fires in Maui, the ongoing war in Ukraine, or maybe it’s a circumstance that hits closer to home, such as a dysfunction in the family, financial disarray, or something more innocuous like a child’s messy bedroom. Chaos in some form or fashion is all around us.

When I read Mark 5 one of the many words that came to my mind was chaos. The first part of Mark 5 describes a demon-possessed man. Mark describes him as supernaturally strong, as loud, as one who continually cut himself with stones that undoubtedly resulted in blood flowing profusely down his body, and as someone who was ousted from town and lived on the outskirts of society. This guy is scary.

Chaos.

What happens when he meets Jesus? In Mark 5:6 we read: “And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.”

Chaos has not only met its match, it has met its demise. The demons cry out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

The demons are overcome with spiritual fear as they rightly recognize a power that is greater than their own as they appropriately recognize the authority that Jesus possesses.

What was I reminded of concerning Jesus?

• Jesus is powerful.
• Jesus liberates people from bondage.
• Jesus brings mental clarity to a person’s life.
• Jesus deeply cares for people.
• Jesus isn’t afraid of evil.

On another note, you’ve made it one week! Proud of you, Graceland. Take a break, Saturday. We’ll see you at worship on Sunday, at one of our campuses. We’ll be back at it on Monday as we’ll be reading Mark chapter 6.