Jesus: Hope in Darkness and Call to Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Brings Peace in the Midst of Chaos

No matter how fierce the storms of life may be, Jesus has the authority to bring peace and calm where there is fear and confusion. The disciples, terrified by the wind and waves, found themselves even more in awe when Jesus simply spoke, "Peace! Be still!" and the storm ceased. In moments when you feel overwhelmed or lost, remember that Jesus is present, able to quiet the chaos both around you and within you, inviting you to trust in His power and presence. [30:30]

Mark 4:37-41 (ESV)
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 area of your life that feels chaotic or out of control right now, and how can you invite Jesus to speak His peace into that specific situation today?

Day 2: Jesus Confronts and Overcomes the Darkness

Jesus is not afraid to step into the darkest, most unclean places of our lives—He meets us where we are, even when we feel hopeless or far from God. The man possessed by a legion of demons was isolated, tormented, and beyond human help, yet Jesus crossed a stormy sea to reach him, speaking directly into his pain and brokenness. No matter how deep your struggles or how far you feel from hope, Jesus has the power and compassion to confront the darkness and bring restoration. [39:42]

Mark 5:1-13 (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. 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.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most trapped or hopeless, and what would it look like to invite Jesus to confront that darkness with His authority and love?

Day 3: The Power of Jesus’ Word and the Importance of Scripture

When faced with temptation and spiritual attack, Jesus responded not with argument but with the Word of God, showing us the importance of knowing and relying on Scripture as our defense. The enemy seeks to separate us from God, often in subtle ways, but the Word is our weapon—sharper than any double-edged sword—able to protect and guide us through spiritual battles. Make it a priority to hide God’s Word in your heart, so that when trials come, you are equipped to stand firm in faith. [42:18]

Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Reflection: What is one verse of Scripture you can memorize this week to help you stand strong when you face temptation or discouragement?

Day 4: From Fear to Peace at the Feet of Jesus

True peace is found not in the absence of trouble, but in sitting at the feet of Jesus, recognizing His authority and receiving His salvation. Both the disciples and the townspeople responded to Jesus’ power with fear, but the healed man found himself clothed, in his right mind, and at peace in Jesus’ presence. When you bring your brokenness to Jesus and surrender at His feet, He replaces fear with a deep, lasting peace that the world cannot give. [54:53]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When was the last time you truly sat at the feet of Jesus in prayer or worship, and how can you make space for that kind of surrender and peace today?

Day 5: Sharing Your Story—Called to Proclaim What Jesus Has Done

Jesus calls those He has restored to go and share their story, becoming witnesses of His mercy and power to those around them. The man once possessed by demons was sent back to his community to tell how much the Lord had done for him, becoming the first missionary to the Gentiles. You, too, have a story of how Jesus has met you in your darkness and brought you into new life—there are people in your life who need to hear it. [56:41]

Mark 5:18-20 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear how Jesus has worked in you, and what is one way you can share your story of His mercy and transformation with them this week?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of chaos and darkness, God is always at work—even when we cannot see or feel it. The story of Jesus crossing the stormy Sea of Galilee to reach the man possessed by a legion of demons reminds us that Christ is willing to go to the most unclean, forgotten, and hopeless places to bring restoration and new life. The man, isolated and tormented, represents the depths of human despair, yet Jesus does not shy away from his pain. Instead, He confronts the darkness head-on, speaking directly to the source of the man’s suffering and setting him free.

This encounter is set in a region considered unclean by Jewish standards, surrounded by Gentiles, tombs, and pigs—symbols of everything that would have kept a devout Jew away. Yet, Jesus intentionally enters this space, demonstrating that His mission is not limited by boundaries of culture, religion, or perceived worthiness. The power and authority of Jesus are so overwhelming that even the demons recognize Him as the Son of the Most High God, submitting to His command without resistance.

The response of the townspeople is telling: rather than rejoicing in the miracle, they are afraid and ask Jesus to leave. This fear of God’s power and the disruption it brings is a common human reaction. Sometimes, witnessing the reality of God’s presence can be more unsettling than the chaos we are used to. Yet, the man who was healed responds differently—he desires to follow Jesus, to sit at His feet, and to learn from Him. Instead, Jesus sends him back to his community as a witness, making him the first missionary to the Gentiles, a living testimony of God’s mercy and transformation.

This story challenges us to consider where we have encountered Jesus in our own darkness, and how we might share that story with others. It calls us to move from fear to faith, from chaos to peace, and from isolation to mission. Jesus is ready and able to handle whatever darkness we bring to Him, and He invites us to sit at His feet, receive new life, and go out to proclaim what He has done.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus Crosses Boundaries to Reach the Lost Christ intentionally enters places and situations that others avoid—unclean lands, broken people, and spiritual darkness. His willingness to cross the stormy sea for one tormented man shows that no one is beyond His reach or concern. We are called to recognize that God’s love is not limited by our boundaries or prejudices, and to trust that He seeks us out even in our most desperate places. [34:34]
2. The Power and Authority of Jesus Over Darkness The legion of demons recognized Jesus’ authority and could do nothing without His permission. This demonstrates that no force of evil can stand against Christ’s word, and that His presence alone is enough to break the chains of bondage. When we face our own darkness, we can have confidence that Jesus has the power to bring deliverance and peace, even when we feel overwhelmed or hopeless. [46:08]
3. Faith Is Not Guaranteed by Miracles The townspeople witnessed a dramatic deliverance, yet their response was fear and rejection rather than faith. This reveals that seeing God’s power does not automatically lead to trust or discipleship; sometimes, it exposes our desire to remain in control. We must examine our own hearts: are we open to the transformation Jesus brings, or do we resist when He disrupts our comfort? [48:23]
4. The Importance of Sitting at Jesus’ Feet The healed man’s first instinct was to sit at Jesus’ feet, a posture of discipleship and gratitude. True peace and restoration come not just from being set free, but from remaining close to Christ, learning from Him, and allowing His presence to shape our lives. We are invited to regularly return to this place of humility and dependence, finding our identity and purpose in Him. [47:00]
5. Every Encounter with Jesus Is a Call to Mission Rather than allowing the healed man to follow Him physically, Jesus sends him back to his community to share his story. Our encounters with Christ are not just for our own benefit; they are meant to be shared as testimonies of God’s mercy and power. Each of us is called to proclaim what the Lord has done, bringing hope to those still in darkness. [56:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:57] - God Is Always Working
[23:48] - Scripture Reading: Mark 5
[27:07] - Where Has Jesus Met You?
[28:26] - The Storm on the Sea of Galilee
[31:14] - The Journey to the Decapolis
[33:15] - Layers of Uncleanliness
[35:11] - The Despair of the Demoniac
[37:05] - Falling at Jesus’ Feet
[39:02] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
[41:38] - Responding to Temptation with Scripture
[43:31] - Jesus Confronts Our Darkness
[46:08] - Deliverance and Restoration
[47:40] - Fear and the Human Response to God’s Power
[49:39] - Personal Story: Seeking God’s Manifestation
[54:11] - From Fear to Peace
[56:02] - Sent on Mission
[58:03] - Sharing Your Encounter with Jesus
[60:07] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 5:1-20 — (The story of Jesus healing the man possessed by a legion of demons in the region of the Gerasenes)

Observation Questions

What details in Mark 5:1-20 show that the man Jesus met was considered “unclean” or an outcast by his community?
According to the passage, how did the demons respond to Jesus when He arrived? What did they call Him?
What was the reaction of the townspeople after they saw the man healed and the pigs destroyed?
What did Jesus tell the healed man to do after he asked to follow Him?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to travel across the stormy sea to a region that was considered unclean and avoided by Jews? What does this say about His mission?
The demons immediately recognized Jesus’ authority and power. Why is it significant that even the forces of evil submit to Him, while the disciples and townspeople struggle to understand who He is?
The townspeople were afraid and asked Jesus to leave after witnessing the miracle. What might have caused their fear, and what does this reveal about human responses to God’s power?
Jesus sends the healed man back to his community instead of letting him follow as a disciple. What might be the purpose behind this, and how does it relate to the idea of mission?

Application Questions

The sermon described how Jesus intentionally crossed boundaries—cultural, religious, and social—to reach someone in deep pain and isolation. Are there “boundaries” in your own life or community that you tend to avoid? What would it look like for you to cross them for the sake of someone in need?
The man was set free from a legion of demons, but the townspeople were more comfortable with the chaos they knew than the change Jesus brought. Can you think of a time when you resisted God’s work in your life because it felt disruptive or uncomfortable? What happened?
The healed man’s first response was to sit at Jesus’ feet in gratitude and humility. When was the last time you intentionally “sat at Jesus’ feet”—in prayer, worship, or listening? What helps you return to that place of dependence?
Jesus told the man to go home and share his story. What is one way you can share your own story of encountering Jesus with someone this week? Who comes to mind?
The sermon challenged us to let Jesus confront the darkest parts of our lives. Is there an area of pain, shame, or struggle that you have been hiding from God? What would it look like to bring it honestly to Jesus?
The townspeople’s fear kept them from experiencing more of Jesus. Are there fears or doubts that keep you from fully trusting or following Jesus? How can you take a step of faith this week to move from fear to trust?
The man became the first missionary to the Gentiles by simply telling what Jesus had done for him. What is one practical way you can be a “missionary” in your everyday life—at work, school, or home?

Sermon Clips

Jesus and his disciples were on the west side of the bank and many people believe that he was in they were in the town of Capernaum before they got in a boat and went across the lake to the region of the Garrison and it was possibly this town right here called Gesa and so Jesus was on the west side of the bank teaching to hundreds if not thousands of people and evening came and he his disciples got on some boats and traveled across the sea. [00:28:06]

Waves were crashing into their boat the disciples were terrified they were petrified wondering "Is this our time are we finally going to meet our God?" Because they didn't realize that God was right there with them the Sea of Galilee is about 13 miles north to south and about 8 miles east to west um and that travel from Capernaum to Gargesa was probably about five miles across. [00:28:47]

This great storm came and they were terrified and can you imagine the confusion that was present during this time maybe you're familiar with this story but the disciples running around frantically on their boat trying to make sure that they don't drown and go into the sea look for their master where where is Jesus they find Jesus in the stern asleep on a cushion they go and they run to Jesus and they yell they wake him up they shake him awake and say "Jesus do you not care that we are about to die do you not care?" [00:29:28]

But what was the disciples response says that they were filled with a great fear at the authority and power that Jesus had over the wind and the sea and so they came to the other side of the sea on the east side of the Sea of Galilee a region known as the region of the garrison and it was part probably of this bigger region known as the Dicapus. [00:30:45]

These cities that were on the east side fell away from what they knew in the country of Israel they had been cut off from Hasmonan rule because of the political turmoil in the area and so though it was an area within Israel they had not maintained their Jewish heritage and many Gentiles began to move into the area bringing their own cultures and religions and so Jesus and his disciples arrive on shore. [00:32:21]

You will discover that this whole passage is filled with what people declared uncleanliness who were of Jewish descent they were in the decaps which was a region that was filled with Gentiles with their unclean cultures and unclean religions they are greeted by a man with an unclean spirit who had been living in the tombs in the land of the dead an unclean area then we also read later in the story that there is a herd of pigs. [00:33:10]

Mark provides in graphic detail a picture of a man that is about as far gone and close to the land of the dead without actually being dead he was crying out in pain says day and night in the mountains out of pain or ar anger or sorrow it says he was cutting himself self-inflicted wounds with rocks and I want you to imagine this picture put yourself in the shoes of one of the disciples. [00:35:11]

You see a man who is physically free to roam about but spiritually and mentally trapped how terrified would you be in that moment as you watch this man running in your direction as you step off step off your boat but then the man does possibly the last thing that anyone ever expected he falls on his knees at the feet of Jesus and begs for mercy. [00:36:49]

Jesus confronts the demon an outcast from society who incited fear into everyone he meets except for one Jesus chose to cross a stormy sea to get to him and then Jesus spoke directly into the darkness he spoke to the identity causing the behavior he spoke into the darkness that was causing the screams day and night. [00:38:13]

The demoniac here is not just some split personality no he is identifying himself that he is filled with an army of demons that is equal to the number and force of a Roman legion and much like the Israelites felt in in their despair and Roman occupation much like they felt whenever they were enslaved in Egypt this man was beyond hopeless. [00:39:08]

I will speak from my own theological belief and tell you that I I truly think it would be a mistake to not believe that demons are present and at work in our world today just as it was in Jesus time and I believe demons will work on you they will press on you and try to do everything within their power to make you break. [00:40:07]

A demon's main goal is to create a wedge that separates you from Jesus a driving block that pushes you away from the only thing that has power and authority over these demons no matter what it may look like this is why we must remain vigilant being able to discern good from evil right from wrong we must remain steadfast within our faith. [00:41:02]

Jesus didn't flinch at this despair and pain just how he would never flinch at any pain and sorrow that you may have in your life instead Jesus confronted the worst part of this man and spoke into it are you willing to let Jesus speak to the worst part of you are you willing to fall on your hands and knees and give your worst to Jesus because Jesus has more than enough to handle anything that you can give him. [00:43:19]

Meanwhile his disciples who had been with him still didn't understand they failed to recognize the authority of Jesus and wondered who he really was even though he was able to calm the storm meanwhile these demons declare the power and authority that Jesus has and they don't even bother trying to fight it because they know that fighting it will only lead to defeat. [00:44:24]

Both this story and the story of Jesus calming the storm end with the same conclusion fear and peace at the crossing of the lake the disciples are more terrified at the power and authority that Jesus displays over the wind and the storm than they were of the storm itself and in this story the town's people are more afraid of the healing and miracle and the power and authority that this that Jesus displays over the demons than they were of the demoniac himself. [00:47:27]

He has found you in your darkness and brought you up out of that darkness and into new life so now you need to ask who in your life is in that darkness right now who is in that darkness that Jesus will confront and bring to new life because Jesus has power and authority of everything that we can bring to him and I promise you that whatever you bring to Jesus your friends your family your enemies your own darkness he is ready he is ready and able to handle it all. [00:59:00]

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