Let’s go to the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We haven’t been there much lately. Before we read from Mark, though, let’s refer to the Old Testament to lay some ground work for a foundation.
The children of Israel were in Egypt for about 400 years, and then God sent Moses to get them out. It took about a year to do that with all those plagues and miracles. But they were slaves, not only physically but mentally, emotionally and everything. In every way they were slaves. What we are looking at here is the fact that there were boundary lines and when you cross a boundary line you meet different things. We are going to liken this to our walk with God. So, Israel came out of Egypt and immediately after coming out they faced a problem with Pharaoh coming after them and they were backed up by the Red Sea. Anyway, the Lord opened the sea so that they could cross over. The Red Sea was a boundary line. They crossed the Red Sea and things changed. They moved into another realm and they faced different problems and challenges.
When they arrived at Sinai, something else happened. That became another stepping-into place, I guess you might say, and God spoke to them. It was 40 years before they got to the land of Canaan. But during that 40 years they faced things that they didn’t have to face while they were in Egypt and everything they faced was for their own good. It helped them to grow. God had gotten them out of Egypt but now He was trying to get Egypt out of them – not an easy thing to do. You know the story of how they murmured and grumbled. They griped and complained over and over and over again many times.
They finally reached the land of Canaan and when they got to the Jordan River, big changes took place again. No longer did they eat manna like they had been in the wilderness. This time they had to eat the corn of the land. The leadership changed. Instead of Moses, Joshua would lead them. Now they had come through the forty-year wilderness, which was much like basic training to create an army out of those slaves.
So they crossed over the Jordan River and went into the land of Canaan. Things changed again. They faced circumstances they did not face on the other side of the Jordan. Canaan was a land of many tribes, and each tribe had its domain. The first city they had to take was Jericho. They entered the domain of Jericho and took it. With each domain they entered, they faced a different opposition with different requirements. They were crossing over from one domain to another throughout their whole time in Canaan.
It’s kind of like our walk with God. We reach a certain place spiritually where we need to cross over a boundary line of some kind. We have a little Red Sea we have to cross over or a Jordan River. When we do, we face different things. Alright, so let’s look at chapter four of Mark, because that is kind of what happens there.
You will always come to a place where you have to get on the other side. When the Israelites got to the Jordan River, they had to get to the other side. When they got to the other side, they were facing new challenges. We have that here with Jesus and the disciples.
Mark 4:35-36 And the same day, when the even was come ... (It
was the closing out of a day) ... He saith unto them ... (Jesus is
speaking to His disciples) ... Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude ...
Why would they send away the multitude? The multitude was not ready to pass over. Jesus and His disciples are going to pass over to the other side.
Mark 4:36-37 ...they took Him even as He was in the
ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into
the ship, so that it was now full.
Immediately, as they began to cross over to the other side they are facing opposition, and we find this opposition in the sea. There is a rising up in mankind to oppose the advancement of the Lord and His army. As we shall see the elements are being troubled by spiritual forces.
Mark 4:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him ...
Wouldn’t you like that kind of faith and fortitude? There is a great storm, waves beating up against the boat, water getting in, and Jesus is asleep. He is just not moved by it. You talk about bold, set, knowing who you are, and knowing your authority – He is just not moved by the circumstances. Sometimes we hit a little speed bump and go crazy. But Jesus is in the back of the boat asleep on a pillow.
Mark 4:38-39 ...and they say unto Him, Master,
carest thou not that we perish?
39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was great calm.
Jesus spoke the word. There was a spiritual force stirring up the waves.
Mark 4:40 And He said unto them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?
In other words, “Why didn’t you do this?” Be not anxious!
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
Now there’s a chapter space here but it continues with the same thought. As we move into chapter five we are going to see why that storm came up in the sea. Now that sea is really the Lake of Tiberias. It’s not a real sea, but it is a huge freshwater lake.
Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea ...
Alright, let’s see what happens on the other side.
Mark 5:1 ... into the country of the Gadarenes.
The Gadarenes is another domain. They are entering a domain under spiritual influence.
Mark 5:2 And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
Now, you know what is going to happen. Verse 9 says the unclean spirit was named Legion because there were many, and verse 13 says there were about 2,000. Can imagine 2,000 demons in that man? Nevertheless, when he saw Jesus he ran to Him (verse 6).
Mark 5:2-4 And when He was come out of the ship,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him,
no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains,
and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in
pieces: neither could any man tame him.
So, you see, there are 2,000 demons. Demons have a lot of power. They don’t have any authority, but they do have a lot of power. They can do things like that.
Mark 5:5-6 And always, night and day, he was in the
mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him.
Now get this – those demons knew that Jesus was on the way there. Seeing that the Lord was going to cross the sea, the spiritual forces in that domain moved upon the waters of the sea to oppose Him. Jesus was not moved by that. He crossed over to the other side knowing He had all authority in the next domain. Satan, knowing that Jesus was going to enter a domain he controlled, moved with his spiritual forces upon the waters of the sea. Had it been left up to the disciples, they would have probably turned around and not entered the domain.
We saw the children of Israel rise up with murmuring against Moses many times as they journeyed from one domain to another. There were times when they would rather go back to Egypt as slaves than to move ahead in the course God had for them. Moses had a very difficult time leading them into God’s promises. If you walk the walk of faith, being led by the Spirit, you will encounter domain after domain with its spiritual forces. Never look back! Never turn around! Keep pressing in! Do you remember what Paul said? We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Again, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18.
Each domain we enter requires something of our self life. We cannot increase in the Lord without decreasing in our self. We are changed from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18). And each glory is a new domain. We drive out the Canaanite spirits, enter the Kingdom of God, and are changed into His image. Then we enter another domain, drive out the spiritual forces, enter a new level of the Kingdom, and are changed into more of His likeness. This is a walk with God, being led by the Spirit from one domain to another.
Copyright © 2009 by Henry DuBose