Facing your fears

"So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes.  Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from the cemetery to meet him.  This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain.  Whenever he was put into chains and shackles - - as he often was - - he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles.  No one was strong enough to control him.  All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones." Mark 5:1-5 (NLT).

In order to appreciate this passage of Scripture, we must know a little background, and understand what would have been the mindset of Jesus' disciples concerning the land of the Gerasenes (also Gadarenes).

The city of Gersa (the city to which Jesus went) was controlled by Jews until Pompey conquered it in 63 BC.  However, these Jews were not the typical, God-fearing Jews of which we tend to think.  They were Hellenized Jews - - that is, they had taken on the culture, and language of the Greeks.  They also imitated the Romans in their architecture.  They even designed their streets and cities like Rome.  But most of all, many followed the religious practices of the pagan Greeks and Romans.

In the midst of the city were temples to Artemis, (a.k.a. Diana) and Zeus (a.k.a. Jupiter).  Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon and of hunting.  In Ephesus, her temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  Archeologists have unearthed statues of Artemis containing many breasts.  Hers was a religion of sexuality and vice. Worshippers of Artemis engaged in all manner of sexual sin with Temple priests and priestesses as acts of worship to the goddess. 

The reputation of Gersa spread far and wide, and you can imagine that most God-fearing Jews hated the place.  Everyone knew of the demoniac that lived among the tombs there, screaming in the night.  It was thought that this man showed how demonic the city was, and how God had abandoned it to evil. 

No God-fearing Jew from the vicinity of Jerusalem some twenty to twenty-five miles away, would go there.  They actually feared the evil in that place to such an extent that going to Gersa would be like a descent into hell.

So to what city does Jesus go?  To Gersa!  What's more, he goes there after a horrible hurricane that nearly drowned his disciples and sapped them of whatever courage they had left.  No doubt, they attributed the storm to the forces of evil in the city to which they were traveling.

But here's my point.  Each of us has at least one Gersa in our life.  It is a place or person or set of circumstances that brings fear to our hearts. 

We may fear poverty or homelessness, so we don't give to God.  We may fear the unknown.  We may fear change.  We may fear rejection by others should we venture to share our faith with them.  We may fear failure if we attempt something for God.  We may fear that God or loved ones will abandon us when the going gets tough should we do what we know we should do for others or God.  We may have served God in the past only to become Satan's target, and demon's fodder.  This might cause us to fear facing what may lie ahead should we step out in service to Christ once again. Whatever our fear, whatever our Gersa, we must face it for the sake of God's kingdom.

We must cross the lake.  We must brave the storm.  We must encounter demons.  We must interact with those who live pagan, immoral lifestyles.   Why?  Because everyone needs God, no matter where they live, or the present condition of their souls.  Many are captive to darkness, and need to see our lights.  But if we never face our fears, they will never see it.

The key is remembering that Jesus is with us.  He went with the disciples to the land of the Gerasenes; he calmed the storm for them; he faced the demoniac with them.  He will do the same for you.

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