”Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.“

2 Timothy 2:15

I believe the body of Christ should preach apologetics, not apologies. Many churches succumb to the pressure of having to apologise what Jesus did and said, when it is presented out of context instead of defending it. We should be concerned with defending the ministry and words of Jesus, not explaining “What He really meant”. The Word of God is truth, yesterday, today, and forever and it doesn’t need evolving or to be revised to be culturally relevant. The truth is always relevant. The love of God is the main issue society faces.

The Intentionality Of Jesus Christ

There are about 7 deliverance miracles recorded in the Bible. I have studied Jesus’ ministry and I want to talk today about the intentionality of Jesus Christ. The kind of things Jesus said, some people could not stand it to the extent they had to make up lies about Him because there was no other way to get Him crucified.

When I went through a dry season, reading the Holy Bible became like a chore. We must make sure that we do not stay in that frame of mind. I discovered something that helped me to regain passion for reading the Bible and that was to look at a map of Jesus’ movements during the Gospels. I used to read all the miracles and sermons as isolated events but when I started looking at the maps and tracking the journeys Jesus took between the miracles, I discovered Jesus is focused, intentional and has a strong sense of purpose in all He does. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to go and save the 1 that got lost.

“On the same day when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side. Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

Mark 4:35-39

How many start from this verse and explain what it is about? It says on the same day. That is the same day Jesus did a lot of miracles and teachings. So He was tired. After He worked all day and was exhausted, He directed them to go across the sea. Imagine the kind of storm that it must have been to make fishermen – who are used to the lake of Galilee and worked there most of their lives – to fear for their lives.

No Contradiction In Scripture

Critics argue that the story of how Jesus Christ delivered the legion of spirits out of a person is contradictory because the account of Matthew’s Gospel says there were 2 demoniacs and the other Gospels only say a demoniac was there. This is not a contradictory issue. It is no more contradictory than in a room of 50 women saying there is a woman in the room.

Those looking for “contradictions” in Scripture, commonly use one passage against another to prove that Scripture is flawed. Understanding linguistics is crucial when rightly dividing the word of truth. Two statements that may seem contradicting at first glance, will become cohesive when a deeper look is taken. 

Neither are wrong but different things are highlighted. Matthew highlighted the fact that there were two people that came to Jesus. The other Gospels highlight the events that took place and that there was a demoniac who was found clothed and sitting in his right mind after Jesus delivered him.

I believe the body of Christ should preach apologetics, not apologies. Share on X

The Deliverance Of Legion

Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39, and Matthew 8:28-33 all describe the deliverance Jesus Christ performed in the country of the Gadarenes. The moment Jesus sets His foot on the shore, the demoniac comes to Him.

Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee with intentionality. Jesus was going to wage spiritual warfare. He went to deliver just one or two people, then went straight back, I believe even to the bewilderment of His followers, but Jesus Christ was very strategic and knew what He was doing.

The Sea of Galilee is about 8 miles wide. It takes 1-2 hours to cross if there is wind, and longer if there is no wind and rowing is required. So it was not a small task or easy trip to just add to their day. This was intentional.

The fact that the locals were herding pigs indicates this was a gentile territory. This is because Jews do not herd pigs as they believe pigs are unclean animals. Again, critics have said a lot of things about the demons being driven into the herd of pigs. However, even this was another example of Jesus’ intentionality. That area was a pagan area, which worshipped the false god Zeus by sacrificing pigs to it. By driving the demons out and allowing them to go into the herd of pigs, Jesus ended idol worship and sent a strong signal to the principalities in that region that the Kingdom of God had come.

That one deliverance had massive impact on the region. Jesus did not allow the man He delivered to follow Him as a disciple but to go and share his testimony in his city. Then the people in that area asked Jesus to leave and that same day, Jesus left. All He did was one deliverance and then, left.

God Is An Intentional God

God is an intentional God. You may not understand His plan today but He is working it out. However, a few chapters later, Jesus returns to the area and people from all over brought the sick for Jesus to heal and deliver. Then, Jesus went on to perform the miraculous feeding of four thousand men in that same area.

Never underestimate the power and value of one prayer you offer, one person God sends you to, or one word of testimony you share in your daily life. Share on X

Miraculous Intentionality

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse… And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.””

Mark 5:25-34

Consider this story from the view point of Jairus. He had gone to get Jesus to heal his daughter who was close to death. Then, this woman ‘distracts’ Jesus while on the way. Jairus’ could’ve easily given up if he had compared his need for a miracle with the miracles of others. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Book of Leviticus 15:25-27 says that whoever touches an unclean woman is unclean until evening. That would have meant Jesus would have to wait and get ceremonially clean before He could come to Jairus’ house.

By healing the woman, Jesus declared, “Your uncleanliness does not make me unclean. Whatever comes in contact with Me, is cleansed.” One woman bled for 12 years. One 12 year old girl was at the end of her life. For one, 12 years of sickness coming to an end. For the other, 12 years of life coming to an end. But the marvellous healing of the woman wasn’t the end of Jairus’ ordeal.

Doubt, Fear, and Faith

In Mark 5:35, Jairus’ servants told him, “Stop disturbing Jesus because your child is dead.” Jesus replied, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Jairus received the worse news. Everything you have been doing is in vain. You delayed too much and now it is too late. However, Jesus’ powerful words reveal something to us: Doubt is not the opposite of faith; fear is the opposite of faith. This means you can have faith in your heart and yet doubt in your head.

Finally, in verse 38-39 they get to Jairus’ house and Jesus utters those incredible words, “The child is not dead, but sleeping.” Whatever has been dead in your life, whatever you thought was gone forever, it is not dead, it is asleep. Just as Jesus Christ brought the little girl back to life, there is nothing in your life He cannot resurrect, bring back, and fix.

Then He gave another very intentional instruction: give her something to eat. Someone that gets resurrected needs to eat to regain its strength. We must continue to feed our faith with the Word of God.

“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

Ephesians 2:5

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