When All Hope is Gone
Introduction: Sometimes life will hand us trials and troubles that seem impossible. We sense defeat before we’ve even begun to fight. The men of Gadara, were very much a hopeless situation. If there was ever a case which the Lord could not have handled this might have been one of them. Yet if the Lord could handle this case, then we can have hope that we will never cross into a case which the Lord is not fully capable of bringing a miraculous victory.
- THE HOPELESS CASES OF MARK 5
- A Man Without Hope Because of Devils (Mark 5:1-20 [1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
[2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
[3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
[5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
[6] But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
[7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
[8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
[9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
[10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
[11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
[12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
[13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
[14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
[15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
[16] And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
[17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
[18] And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
[19] 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.
[20] And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
See All...) - A Woman Without Hope Because of Disease (Mark 5:25-34 [25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
[26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
[27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
[28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
[29] And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
[30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
[31] And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
[32] And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
[33] But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
[34] And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
See All...) - A Family Without Hope Because of Death (Mark 5:22-24 [22] And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
[23] And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
[24] And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
See All...; 35-43) - THE MAN OR MEN FROM GADARA (Mark 5:1-5 [1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
[2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
[3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
[5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
See All...; See Matthew 8:28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
See All...; Luke 8:26-27 [26] And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. [27] And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
See All...) - The Root of His Problem (Mark 5:2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
See All...) - The man had an unclean spirit (Mark 5:2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
See All...) - The unclean spirit’s name was Legion for there were many (Mark 5:9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
See All...) - He had had devils a long time (Luke 8:27And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
See All...) - The Effects of His Problem (Mark 5:3-5 [3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
[5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
See All...) - He had his dwelling among the tombs (Mark 5:3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
See All...) - No man could bind him (Mark 5:3-4 [3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
See All...) - No man could tame him (Mark 5:4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
See All...) - He was always crying (Mark 5:5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
See All...) - He kept cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
See All...) - He wore no clothes (Luke 8:27And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
See All...) - THE SON OF GOD (Mark 5:6-13 [6] But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
[7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
[8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
[9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
[10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
[11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
[12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
[13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
See All...) - His Arrival (Mark 5:6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
See All...) - The man from Gadara saw Him from afar off (see Matthew 8:28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
See All...) - The man ran and worshipped Him
- His Authority (Mark 5:7-10 [7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
[8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
[9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
[10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
See All...) - Recognized by the devils (Mark 5:7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
See All...) - The devils begged Him not to torment them (Mark 5:7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
See All...) - They besought Him not to send them out of the country (Mark 5:10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
See All...) - They besought Him not to send them into the deep (Luke 8:31And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
See All...) - His Action (Mark 5:11-13 [11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
[12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
[13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
See All...) - The herd of swine (Mark 5:11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
See All...) - The request of the devils (Mark 5:12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
See All...) - The deliverance by Christ (Mark 5:13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
See All...) - THE RENEWAL OF HOPE (Mark 5:14-20 [14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
[15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
[16] And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
[17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
[18] And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
[19] 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.
[20] And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
See All...) - The Change in the Man From Gadara (Mark 5:15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) - He is sitting (Mark 5:15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) at the feet of Jesus (Luke 8:35Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) - He is clothed (Mark 5:15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) - He is in his right mind (Mark 5:15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) - The People of Gadara (Mark 5:14-17 [14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
[15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
[16] And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
[17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
See All...) - Those feeding the swine fled and told it in the city and in the country (Mark 5:14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
See All...) - They saw the men and were afraid (Mark 5:15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
See All...) - They were not afraid because of the men.
- They were afraid because they knew that no man could bind or tame these men (Mark 5:3-4 [3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
See All...). This meant they were not dealing with a man in the Lord Jesus Christ. - They asked the Lord to depart (Mark 5:17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
See All...) - The Departure of the Lord (Mark 5:17-18 [17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
[18] And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
See All...) - Sent away by the multitudes (Mark 5:17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
See All...) - Received by the few (Mark 5:18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
See All...) - The Commission Given to the Man From Gadara (Mark 5:19-20 [19] 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.
[20] And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
See All...) - Go home to thy friends (Mark 5:19Howbeit 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.
See All...) - Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee (Mark 5:19Howbeit 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.
See All...) - The man / men published the news in Decapolis, a ten city region (Mark 5:20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
See All...) - There was great success (Luke 8:40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
See All...)
Conclusion: Are you in the midst of a hopeless situation? Perhaps it is your need for deliverance from some sin, or your need for salvation. The Lord’s hand is not short so that He cannot reach where you are. If the Lord can deliver the men from Gadara, then your circumstances are not a problem for Him.