How can we ensure we welcome Jesus into our lives, unlike Mark 5:17? Setting the Scene: Mark 5:17 “And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.” Jesus had just cast a legion of demons out of a tormented man. The delivered man sat clothed and in his right mind, yet the townspeople asked the Savior to leave. Their response warns us that a miracle in plain sight does not guarantee a welcoming heart. Why the People Sent Jesus Away • Fear of supernatural power they could not control (Mark 5:15) • Economic loss when the herd of pigs drowned (Mark 5:16) • Preference for the familiar over the unsettling presence of holiness Common Barriers Today • Comfort with sin or compromise (John 3:19–20) • Preoccupation with material security (Matthew 6:24) • Crowd influence and cultural pressure (Romans 12:2) • Unwillingness to surrender control (Luke 18:22–23) Key Decisions That Welcome Jesus • Receive Him by faith: “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) • Repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15) • Confess Him openly: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Practical Habits to Keep the Door Open • Daily time in Scripture—His living voice shapes receptive hearts (Hebrews 4:12) • Ongoing prayer—constant fellowship that keeps fear and doubt out (Philippians 4:6–7) • Obedient action—doing what He says confirms genuine welcome (John 14:23) • Fellowship with other believers—shared faith strengthens resolve (Hebrews 10:24–25) • Gratitude—thanking Him for salvation values Christ above possessions (Colossians 2:6–7) Examples of Hearts That Embraced Him • The Gerasene man who was healed, then proclaimed Jesus in Decapolis (Mark 5:18–20) • Zacchaeus, who welcomed Jesus joyfully and repented of greed (Luke 19:5–9) • Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened to heed Paul’s message (Acts 16:14) Living Out the Welcome Because Scripture records literal events and absolute truth, the contrast is stark: villagers who pleaded for distance versus disciples who drew near. By trusting Christ, surrendering every area of life, and cultivating daily practices of Word, prayer, obedience, fellowship, and gratitude, believers ensure Jesus is not merely observed from afar but joyfully received and enthroned at the very center of life. |
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