Mark 5:17-19 "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."
In these three verses, we see two different types of people. There were those who lost their material goods because of the work of Jesus and this man whose entire life had been turned around when Jesus came to him. We see a people who lost their blessing because they asked Jesus to leave. We see a man who had been cast away by those same people and had received the greatest blessing he could have ever imagined. His life was made whole again by the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you imagine asking the Lord of glory to depart simply because their lives had been turned upside down. Do you think the disciples would have had their trip across the sea of Galilee after having witnessed the power of Christ to calm the storm? Do you think it was worth it to them even though they had toiled in the ship, feared in the storm, and doubted the love of Jesus for those moments? They learned something that day that I believe went with them the rest of their lives. This instance can be seen in one of the last things Peter wrote to the saints who had been cast into a strange land because of their faith. In 1 Peter chapter 5, we read, "Cast all your care upon Him for HE CARETH FOR YOU." Remember the question they all asked (including Peter)? "Carest thou not that we perish?" But after that day, Peter could say with all confidence to those who had been cast into a personal storm, "He cares for you!" Those who asked Jesus to leave could not experience the sweet peace that the disciples experienced and the man possessed by legions of demons experienced.
We're in a storm now. It's a different kind of storm than ever has been seen in our lifetime. It's a storm that comes wave after wave. For many people, the waves are large and seem to be overwhelming. There might even be the temptation to ask the same question as the disciples, "Carest thou not?" But I say to you, I would rather ride in the storm with Jesus than to walk a single day without Him. How about you?
If we feel that way, should our outlook be different than that which the world tries to portray? Should we not be willing to tell people wherever we are that Jesus is in control. Jesus is in the boat with us. He has power to speak peace and calm into the world. Could it be that He is waiting for us to turn in a united spirit to Him even if it is to ask, "Master, Carest thou not?" I can assure you of the answer:
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
In these three verses, we see two different types of people. There were those who lost their material goods because of the work of Jesus and this man whose entire life had been turned around when Jesus came to him. We see a people who lost their blessing because they asked Jesus to leave. We see a man who had been cast away by those same people and had received the greatest blessing he could have ever imagined. His life was made whole again by the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you imagine asking the Lord of glory to depart simply because their lives had been turned upside down. Do you think the disciples would have had their trip across the sea of Galilee after having witnessed the power of Christ to calm the storm? Do you think it was worth it to them even though they had toiled in the ship, feared in the storm, and doubted the love of Jesus for those moments? They learned something that day that I believe went with them the rest of their lives. This instance can be seen in one of the last things Peter wrote to the saints who had been cast into a strange land because of their faith. In 1 Peter chapter 5, we read, "Cast all your care upon Him for HE CARETH FOR YOU." Remember the question they all asked (including Peter)? "Carest thou not that we perish?" But after that day, Peter could say with all confidence to those who had been cast into a personal storm, "He cares for you!" Those who asked Jesus to leave could not experience the sweet peace that the disciples experienced and the man possessed by legions of demons experienced.
We're in a storm now. It's a different kind of storm than ever has been seen in our lifetime. It's a storm that comes wave after wave. For many people, the waves are large and seem to be overwhelming. There might even be the temptation to ask the same question as the disciples, "Carest thou not?" But I say to you, I would rather ride in the storm with Jesus than to walk a single day without Him. How about you?
If we feel that way, should our outlook be different than that which the world tries to portray? Should we not be willing to tell people wherever we are that Jesus is in control. Jesus is in the boat with us. He has power to speak peace and calm into the world. Could it be that He is waiting for us to turn in a united spirit to Him even if it is to ask, "Master, Carest thou not?" I can assure you of the answer:
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.