Bible Reading
Mark 5:1-20 “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 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. 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. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 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.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”
[13:10]John 9:25 “He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
[28:10]Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
[10:51]Observation questions
- In Mark 5:1–20, which details show the man’s isolation and suffering before meeting Jesus, and which details show the change afterward? [24:04]
- How did the townspeople’s response to Jesus differ from the restored man’s response? What did each ask Jesus to do? [14:35]
- In Mark 5:18–20, where did Jesus send the restored man, what was he to tell others, and what happened when he did? [15:01]
- In John 9:25, what did the healed man acknowledge he did not know, and what could he confidently say about his own experience? [28:05]
Interpretation questions
- Jesus sent the restored man back to people who knew his past. What does that suggest about how a painful history can become evidence of Christ’s mercy rather than a permanent label? [21:44]
- The townspeople saw the man restored but asked Jesus to leave. What does their response reveal about the difference between recognizing a change and welcoming Jesus’ work? [24:42]
- How does the healed man’s response in John 9:25 help a believer distinguish between giving an honest testimony and trying to answer every objection? [27:55]
- In Mark 5:19–20, the man’s message centered on what Jesus had done for him. How would that focus shape the way a believer tells a story of suffering and recovery? [35:03]
Application questions
- Shame can turn something we did—or something done to us—into a verdict about who we are. Without sharing details you would rather keep private, is there a label from your past that you struggle to release? What truth about Christ’s mercy could help you challenge it? [17:17]
- You do not have to pretend your past never happened for Jesus to redeem it. Where can you recognize his mercy in your story, even if healing is still ongoing? [22:52]
- Have you felt pressure to return to an old pattern because someone was uncomfortable with your growth? What might it look like to love that person while protecting the progress Jesus has brought? [27:35]
- Courage rests in Jesus’ presence, not in being naturally fearless. When you think about speaking openly about your faith, what fear comes up? How might remembering that Jesus is with you help you take one small step? [30:15]
- When an old memory or hurt resurfaces, what do you tend to tell yourself about your progress? What could help you respond with patience, and who could you reach out to for support? [32:34]
- Who is one person you could share a simple account of Christ’s mercy with this week? What would you want that person to understand about Jesus—not just about what you have been through? [35:03]
