One Man

Tonight I sob.  Tonight I feel my affliction.  I feel the missing.  I feel the grief.  Not that it ever truly goes away, but tonight it's a thorn, a physical reminder of my affliction.  I remember God's word that He has rooted into my heart.  "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees" (Psalm 119:71).  This was David's cry to the Lord.  David, a bereaved father, an adulterer, a murderer.  David who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises. (Hebrews 11:33)  David knew what affliction was,  he cried out "I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O Lord, according to your word." (Psalm 119:107)  Tonight, I am exceedingly afflicted.  Tonight Jeff and I headed out for a birthday party for a friend.  We didn't even make it half way there, when I just cried out, "I can't go, take me home, please take me home."  Tonight I am exceedingly afflicted.   It has been a few weeks since my sobs were deep and my cry was loud. There was no room for silent grief in this broken heart.  Tonight I could not do anything but run to the word of God.   I needed to hear the words that My Savior spoke.  In Mark 4, Jesus is in a crowd of people speaking parables and then explaining things privately with his disciples.  When evening came he said to them "Let us go to the other side." (Mark 4:35)  They left the crowd and and headed towards the other side in a boat.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:37-41)

 I love this story, I love knowing that My Savior will calm my storm.  I went on to read.  For the first time I was curious to see why Jesus wanted to go to the other side into the country of Gerasenes.  Tears fell to the pages when I continued reading in Chapter 5. 

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.  For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.  Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”  “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.  A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.  Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.  As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:2-21)

Tears fell, because I knew that Jesus set out that evening to pursue one man.  A man filled with many demons.  He asked the man's name.  He spoke permission over the demons and they came out.   A man whom not one person could bind, not even with chains.  Jesus, My Savior, saved this man.  Tonight in my affliction, I remember that it is good for me that I am afflicted, because in my affliction I learn who My Savior is.  He pursues me.  That day He was in a crowd, He could have saved thousands that evening, but He pursued one man.   One man that He knew would go back to tell how much Jesus had done for him.  A man afflicted beyond what any of us probably have ever seen. 

Tonight I cry, but my soul rests, because My Savior pursued me, He "Quiets" the storm, and above all;  He found me, He forgave me, He saved me and His grace covers me.  That my beloved is a mighty mighty God!!