From Hurt to Healing: Jesus' Transformative Power
Summary
Hurt, broken, lost, and empty—these are words that describe so many people in our world, and perhaps even ourselves at times. The story of the man in Mark 5, who lived among the tombs, tormented and isolated, is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus’ love and restoration. This man, rejected by society and even by his own family, was driven by pain and darkness to the point of self-destruction. Yet, when he encountered Jesus, everything changed. Jesus didn’t shy away from his pain or his mess; instead, He moved toward him with compassion and authority, bringing healing and freedom where the world had only offered chains and despair.
Jesus’ journey across the stormy lake to meet this man is itself a picture of His willingness to go through chaos and danger to reach those who are suffering. The disciples, terrified by the storm, witnessed Jesus’ power to calm the wind and waves—a power that would soon be revealed in an even greater way as He confronted the spiritual darkness tormenting the man in the tombs. The question, “Who is this?” echoes through the story, challenging each of us to consider who Jesus truly is and what He offers to those who are hurting.
The encounter with the demons and the pigs is a difficult part of the story, but it reveals the reality of spiritual forces that seek to destroy, contrasted with the absolute authority and goodness of Jesus. The man’s transformation—clothed, in his right mind, and restored to his community—shows that Jesus doesn’t just offer relief from suffering, but a new identity and purpose. He sends the man back to his people, not as a victim, but as a witness to God’s mercy.
For those who feel overwhelmed by pain, mental health struggles, or the storms of life, there is hope. Jesus is not just a distant figure or a religious idea; He is present, powerful, and able to bring healing and restoration. The invitation is to bring our hurt, brokenness, lostness, and emptiness to Him, trusting that He can transform them into healing, restoration, being found, and fullness.
Key Takeaways
- Compassion runs toward pain, not away from it. When confronted with suffering—whether in ourselves or others—our instinct may be to avoid or withdraw. Yet, the example of Jesus and those who follow Him is to move toward the hurting, offering presence, practical help, and love. This is where true healing often begins, both for the one who suffers and the one who serves. [01:40]
- Jesus meets us in our most desperate places. The man in the tombs was beyond human help, isolated and tormented, yet Jesus sought him out. No matter how far gone we feel, or how deep our pain, Jesus is willing to cross any barrier to reach us. His presence brings hope where there was only despair. [07:04]
- The storms we face are not beyond Jesus’ power. The disciples’ fear in the boat and the man’s torment in the tombs both reveal situations that seem hopeless. Yet, Jesus demonstrates authority over both the natural and spiritual realms, inviting us to trust Him even when we are afraid or overwhelmed. Faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to call on Jesus in the midst of it. [04:59]
- Spiritual battles are real, but Jesus is greater. The story of the demons and the pigs is unsettling, but it reminds us that evil is not just an abstract concept. There are forces that seek to destroy, but Jesus’ authority is absolute. Our hope is not in our own strength, but in the One who has already overcome. [11:45]
- Restoration is both an event and a journey. The man was instantly changed by his encounter with Jesus, but for many of us, healing is a process—a walk with Jesus through our pain, doubts, and disappointments. Even when transformation is gradual, Jesus is faithful to walk with us, bringing us into fullness and purpose as we trust Him day by day. [16:27]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:40] - Compassion in Action: The Park Encounter
[03:44] - Introducing the Hero: The Man in the Tombs
[04:59] - Jesus Calms the Storm
[07:04] - The Depth of Brokenness and Self-Harm
[09:16] - Searching for Relief: Where Do We Turn?
[10:00] - The Authority of Jesus Recognized
[11:45] - The Challenge: Who Is Jesus?
[13:30] - The Demons, the Pigs, and Spiritual Realities
[16:27] - Wrestling with the Hard Questions
[18:40] - Personal Testimony: Walking Through Darkness
[20:55] - Restoration: In His Right Mind
[21:50] - Sent with a Story: Sharing What God Has Done
[23:01] - Invitation: From Hurt to Fullness
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Hurt, Broken, Lost, Empty (Mark 4:35–5:20)
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### Bible Reading
Mark 4:35–5:20 (ESV)
> 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
>
> 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
>
> 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
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### Observation Questions
1. What details in Mark 5 show just how desperate and isolated the man living among the tombs was?
2. How did Jesus respond to the man’s pain and torment when He arrived on the shore?
3. What was the reaction of the townspeople when they saw the man healed and “in his right mind”?
4. In the sermon, what did the team in the park do differently than most people when they saw someone hurting? [[01:40]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus was willing to cross a stormy lake and face danger just to reach one hurting man? What does this say about His character? [[04:59]]
2. The sermon says, “Compassion runs toward pain, not away from it.” Why is this so hard for us, and what might it look like in our lives? [[01:40]]
3. The story of the demons and the pigs is unsettling. What does it reveal about the reality of spiritual battles and Jesus’ authority? [[11:45]]
4. The man wanted to go with Jesus after being healed, but Jesus sent him back to his community. Why do you think Jesus did this, and what does it teach us about our own stories? [[21:50]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon described people who are “hurt, broken, lost, and empty.” Have you ever felt like that? If so, what helped you, or what do you wish someone had done for you? [[00:00]]
2. When you see someone who is hurting or struggling (like the man in the park or the man in the tombs), what is your first instinct? What would it look like to “run toward the pain” instead of away from it this week? [[01:40]]
3. The disciples were afraid in the storm, and the man was tormented in the tombs. What “storms” or struggles are you facing right now that feel overwhelming? How can you invite Jesus into those places? [[04:59]]
4. The sermon mentioned that healing and restoration can be both instant and a journey. Are there areas in your life where you are still waiting for healing or change? How can you keep walking with Jesus in the process? [[16:27]]
5. The man was sent back to his people to share what God had done for him. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear your story of God’s mercy or help? What’s one way you could share it this week? [[21:50]]
6. The story shows that spiritual battles are real, but Jesus is greater. Are there areas where you feel powerless or under attack? How can you lean on Jesus’ authority and not just your own strength? [[11:45]]
7. The sermon ended with an invitation: “Bring your hurt, brokenness, lostness, and emptiness to Jesus.” What would it look like for you to do that today? Is there something specific you want to bring to Him in prayer or with the help of others? [[23:01]]
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Closing Prayer:
Invite group members to bring their hurts, struggles, or storms to Jesus in prayer, trusting that He is present, powerful, and compassionate.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Hurt, Brokenness, and Emptiness
No matter how lost, hurt, or broken someone may feel, Jesus is drawn to them with compassion and power. The story of the man in the tombs shows that even when the world has no solution, Jesus moves toward pain, not away from it, offering hope and restoration. When others may avoid or judge, Jesus steps into the mess and brings healing, showing that no one is beyond His reach or love. If you feel isolated, tormented, or empty, know that Jesus sees you and is ready to meet you right where you are. [03:44]
Mark 5:1-5 (ESV)
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Reflection: Who in your life is hurting or isolated that you might normally avoid—how could you move toward them with compassion this week?
Day 2: Jesus Calms the Storms Within and Around Us
When life’s storms rage and fear threatens to overwhelm, Jesus is present and powerful to bring peace. The disciples panicked in the boat, but Jesus calmed the wind and waves with a word, revealing His authority over chaos. In our own storms—whether external circumstances or inner turmoil—we can call out to Jesus, trusting that He is with us and able to bring calm. He invites us to faith, not fear, and reminds us that we are never alone in the boat. [04:59]
Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Reflection: What is one “storm” in your life right now that you need to bring honestly to Jesus in prayer, asking Him to bring peace?
Day 3: Jesus Has Authority Over Darkness and Brings True Freedom
Jesus is not just a good teacher—He is the Son of God with absolute authority over spiritual darkness and evil. The demons recognized Jesus’ identity and power, even when the disciples were still unsure. No force of evil is equal to Him; He brings freedom where there was bondage and restores what was broken. If you feel tormented by inner struggles or darkness, know that Jesus’ authority is greater, and He is able to set you free and bring you into your right mind. [11:45]
Mark 5:6-15 (ESV)
And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.
Reflection: Where do you sense darkness or bondage in your life or community, and how can you invite Jesus’ authority and freedom into that place today?
Day 4: Restoration Is a Journey—Jesus Walks With Us Through Healing
Restoration and healing are not always instantaneous; sometimes, it is a daily walk with Jesus through pain, disappointment, or mental health struggles. Even after dramatic encounters, the journey to wholeness can take time, and Jesus is patient and present every step of the way. He brings us from brokenness to restoration, from emptiness to fullness, and from fear to peace—not always in a moment, but through a relationship that transforms us over time. [16:27]
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust Jesus for ongoing healing, and what small step can you take today to walk with Him in that process?
Day 5: Share What Jesus Has Done—Your Story Can Bring Hope
After being restored, the man wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus sent him home to share his story. Our own experiences of Jesus’ mercy and transformation are meant to be shared, bringing hope to others who feel hurt, broken, lost, or empty. You don’t need to have all the answers—just tell what Jesus has done for you, and let your life be a testimony to His love and power. [23:01]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
Reflection: Who is one person you could share your story of Jesus’ work in your life with this week, and how might you do it with gentleness and respect?
Quotes
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