Radical Peace - Wild Heart: Mark’s Portraits of a Radical Messiah

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We’re continuing our series Wild Heart: Mark’s Portrait of a Radical Messiah this morning.

Last week we looked at how Jesus used parables to probe and test the hearts of the people. Instead of telling stories with nice neat morals to help people understand the Word of God, He told these stories in such a way that the truth could only be revealed if the hearer’s heart had been prepared by the Spirit of God.

Today we’re looking at something that we hear about all the time but rarely really see. It’s peace. Have you noticed that the peace sign has made its way back into the main stream? In fact the other day we were walking around at the mall and one of the major department stores is running an marking campaign called “The Summer of Love” sound familiar complete with hippie clothes?

Peace is something we desire but rarely ever seem to experience. It seems that there’s always some pressure or conflict going on in our life. Everything from the stress of relationships to the stress of the rent payment we’re feeling it on the inside.

Most of the turbulence we feel is caused by things that we can’t control. And it seems that the harder we thrash around trying to control our environment the worse things become. Anyone here know what I’m talking about?

During the time of Jesus the Romans were occupying Israel/Palestine and they brought with them the Roman ‘Pax’ which means peace. They had conquered everyone else so no one was fighting with them anymore, but the Roman peace wasn’t real. It only managed the surface because they couldn’t change the hearts of people. The Romans tried to impose peace but that only stirred up more turmoil.

Human effort can never bring lasting peace (shalom).

The two stories we’re going to read this morning are snap shots of the kind of peace that Jesus offers. We find this description of Jesus in the prophet Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Then at the birth of Jesus the angels announced Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

These stories don’t just tell us about what Jesus can do, but they also confirm who He is.

Let’s read: Mark 4:35-5:20

Jesus asks His disciples to cross the sea. It was dusk so they would be crossing in the dark. That was a little unusual and dangerous but they did it. Anyone want to venture a guess why Jesus wanted to cross the sea? No, not to get to the other side, it was to get away from the multitudes. It’s not that Jesus didn’t love the people; it was that He didn’t want to create a situation where the Romans and Jewish leaders felt threatened and forced to intervene before He had accomplished what He came to do.

Anyway the other side of the lake was safer because it wasn’t part of Israel so Jesus didn’t have to worry about being watched.

This storm came upon them suddenly and was so violent that the waves were filling the boats. But Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. He was the picture of peace in the middle of the storm. But the disciples became panicked and woke Jesus up with the accusation “don’t you care?”

Instead seeing the peace of Jesus they were looking at the storm. Isn’t that true of us as well? Don’t we get caught up in our storms of life, our troubles, and allow fear to drive our actions? We can even begin to doubt God and even accuse Him of not caring about us. But Jesus never panics. Jesus gets up and rebukes the storm and then speaks peace and the sea became calm. The wild sea had met it’s match with an even wilder Messiah.
When they get to the other side of the lake they are met by a demoniac man. Some vacation.

This man is so overpowered by demonic spirits that he is wild, and out of control with superhuman strength to break chains. This demoniac also practices self mutilation cutting himself with stones, crying out night and day and he lived among the dead, he was a dead man walking.

But when Jesus steps on shore this wild man was about to encounter and even wilder messiah. The demoniac rushes to Jesus and bows down before Him. You’d think the last thing a demoniac would want to do would be to come to Jesus. While it doesn’t say it here I wonder if they intended to challenge Jesus but when they got there met such an overwhelming power in Jesus that they had to bow before Him?

We don’t know why but they bowed and Jesus told the evil spirits to leave. But Jesus does something unusual (FYI It’s not an exorcism formula as some would take it.) He asks for the name, or identity of the demons and they respond with “Legion because we are many.” A Roman legion was about 7,000 men so that meant this man was in really bad shape.

One wild messiah, one wild man, 7,000 demons and 11 freaked out disciples, a herd of demon possessed pigs and some scared herdsmen. What a party! But when it was all done a man who had known only torment was sitting, clothed and in His right mind.

Interesting note: In both cases the immediate response of the people who witnessed the miracles was fear. This was a fear that was awe inspiring as if these witnesses were so overwhelmed by what they saw that their immediate response was to withdraw from Jesus. Even after all they had seen they still didn’t ‘get’ who Jesus was.

Here are some observations:

The disciples experienced the storm even though they were doing what Jesus told them to do.

Peace came at the word of Jesus. (vs. 4:39, 5:8) His word is powerful (Heb. 4:12) and when we are in distress His word can bring peace. By reading and hearing the word of God we can find peace. His word is also the only thing that stays the same. Jesus changed methods often, but His word was constant.

Jesus proved that He has authority over all things. (vs. 4:41, 5:13) There is no power greater that Jesus. He is above all powers and His peace passes all understanding (Phil 4:7). The demons couldn’t do anything without His permission.

Jesus helped them even when their faith was weak. (vs. 4:40, 5:7) The disciples were even rebuked for their lack of faith and the demoniac obviously didn’t have any. They even asked for help the wrong way and Jesus still helped them.

This wild Messiah can still do the impossible. If you need peace today just come to Him no matter what your frame of mind and heart. He is your Prince of Peace.