May Week3 Lesson: Jesus Sets Us Free.

LESSON  21. May 21, 2017

Topic: Jesus Sets Us Free

Memory Verse:  John 8:36.    If  the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (KJV).

Central Truth:  Jesus offers freedom from bondage.

Focus: To recognize and live in the freedom Jesus offers.

Lesson Text: Mark 5:1-43

Hebrews 2:14-15

Lesson OutLine.

1.    Freed from Bondage

A.      Powerful Deliverance

B.      Dynamic Testimony

2.    Freed from Suffering

A.      Great Faith

B.      Healing Touch

3.    Freed from Death

A.      Raised to Life

B.      Delivered from Sin and Death

                         Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1.      Explain how Jesus delivered people from demon possession, sickness, and death.

2.      Affirm that Jesus still delivers today.

3.      Proclaim the power of Jesus to deliver and transform lives.

                   

                          Introducing The  Lesson

Question:  Why is it important for Christians to recognize the reality of demon oppression and possession, and understand these issues from biblical perspective?

The topic of demon and deliverance is Popular today. Much fictional information is available on this issues through secular movies, books, and television programmes.

Christians must recognize that spiritual battles are real. People all around us are under the influence of evil powers that operate in this fallen world. As a result, sadly, they find themselves bound, oppressed, and without hope. We need to tell them one message that can bring change: There is freedom and hope available through the power of Jesus Christ.

                   Commentary and Application

1.   Freed from Bondage.

A.  Powerful Deliverance. Mark 5:1-13.

Mark’s description of the demonic shows the man’s miserable condition and power the demons had over him ( Mark :2-5). He was beyond human help. There was nothing people could do to control him or even remove the force that held control over him. He was strong and violent and the people had driven him from the town to the hills. The demoniac dwelled in the caves contained within those hills. Luke 8:27 further indicates that the man was naked and had lived in isolation for some time.

The word translated “ worshipped” (Mark 5:6,KJV) could have multiple interpretations. Some believe it refers to the man prostrating himself before Jesus, indicating an intense desire for  deliverance . Others hold that the word  refers to the demons causing the man to fall before Jesus in an act of homage for his power because they had no authority to overcome Jesus.

The demons within this man recognized Jesus  (Mark 5:2, 6-7), and they knew of his superior  power. The voice coming from the man was probably the demons expressing a desire that Jesus not expel them. Other scriptures affirm that demons fear God’s judgment (Mark1:24;Luke 8:31). Yet Jesus immediately ordered them out of the man ( Mark 5:8)

Jesus then conversed with the demons (Mark 5:9-10), who were fearful of judgment and looking for a way of escape. The term legion referred to a Roman military unit containing as many as six thousand soldiers.

The demons requested to be cast into a herd of swine (verses 11-12). Perhaps they though they could continue to dwell in that region within the pigs. They did not realized the consequences of their request (verse13). Jesus not only cleaned the man and set him free, He may also have cleansed the area of these demons when the pigs died.

Question: How can this account help us understand ways in which Jesus delivers people from demonic forces today?

Lesson Tips: Discuss  ways Jesus delivers people today. Note that spiritual battles include more than demon possession. Jesus can work powerful in a wide array of spiritual battles. No force is too great for Him.

B.    Dynamic Testimony. Mark 5:14-20

Mark 5:14-15 describes the dramatic results of his deliverances.  First was the impact on the onlookers. Those tending  the pigs ran off to tell  of what had happened. They clearly recognized the immensity of the situation. This event demonstrated  Jesus’ power over demon . The people were understandably afraid (verse 16). The could barely control the demoniac. If Jesus held power over evil spirit, What else was He capable of doing? In addition, the loss of such a large herd represented a considerable financial impact –one that they would not want repeated. Sadly, this material consideration blinded them to the miraculous impact experienced by the demoniac. Out of fear the town’s people asked Jesus to leave (Verse17).

Question: What impact did Jesus’ act of Deliverance have on the demoniac ?

The impact on the demoniac was profound. He was immediately restored to a normal state(verse15).

Understandably, the man wanted to become a companion of Christ like the disciples (Verses 19-20). He would serve as example and eyewitness of Christ’s power and  Messiahship to Gentiles in the Decapolis- a reference to ten Greek cities on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee and Jordan River.  

Question:  What are some ways we experience the power of God and how can these experiences serve to testify of Christ?

Teaching Tip:  Have students suggest ways they can share testimonies of Jesus’ saving, healing, and delivering power  with others.

We have experienced God’s deliverance in our lives- whether from sin or sickness. Our testimony can be a great way to tell others about Jesus.

2.    Freed from Suffering

A.   Great Faith. Mark 5:25-28

Just as the demon-possessed man was in a miserable state, so was the afflicted woman in Mark 5:25-28. Her blinding was probably from a chronic uterine heamorrhage. She was beyond human help. Luke 8:43 (KJV) provides an apt description of the utter hopelessness of the situation.

Adding to her affliction, the bleeding made her ritually unclean. Any one who touched her or anyone she touched became unclean and in need of purification ( Leviticus 15:19-30). This condition, then, caused her to be avoided by others and looked down upon by society.

However, the woman knew there was hope in Jesus (Mark 5:27-28). She had immense faith, recognising the only way to get healing was to touch  Jesus’ clothes. She knew this was enough to heal her. Then she could quickly slip away and return home.

Question : What are some different responses people have when faced with impossible circumstances?

Many times we try to solve our own problems. We look solely to doctors for healing, or focus on consulting people we know to be wise or experienced for answers. But our first source must be Jesus. The actions or wisdom of others can help and even bring comfort. But only Jesus can perform the impossible.

B.    Healing Touch. Mark 5: 29-34.

When the woman touched  Jesus, her torch brought immediate and lasting healing (Mark 5:29). What she had planned to do in secret soon became public (verse 30). Jesus immediately knew that power had left Him.

The disciples’ remark in verse 31 shows that they did not initially comprehend what had happened. To them, Jesus’ word were absurd. Unlike the woman, the disciples lacked the faith and spiritual understanding to grasp what had occurred. The crowd were pressing on Him. Many people had touched Jesus, but only one had touched Him in faith.

 The woman became afraid because she-an unclean person –had touched a holy man(verse 33). Furthermore, it was inappropriate for a woman in that culture and setting to engage a man in open conversation. But she knew something had happened to her. It could not be denied (verse 32-33). Jesus replied with compassion (verse 34). He  called her “daughter”, indicating she no longer unclean and thus outside the community.  In that instance, she became free to worship in the synagogue. Her condition was gone.

Jesus also highlighted the presence and role of her faith – an important point in helping every Christian understand the importance of surrendering our needs to God and believing Him for the answer.

Question : What can this healing teach Christians today  about approaching Jesus with their needs?

The healing of this woman should encourage us to approach Jesus no matter what we face: Physical, spiritual, or emotional needs. His compassion, even on an outcast of society, gives us hope and assurance that He will have compassion on us as well.

Teaching Tip: Have a volunteer summarise the Assemblies of God statement on divine healing, discuss observations students have concerning this information.

3.    Freed From Death.

A.   Raised to Life. Mark 5: 21 -24, 35-43.

 As a synagogue ruler, Jairus was an important and highly respected member of society. He had responsibility for the synagogue services and taking care of the building and the contents. But in Mark 5:21-24, he faced a desperate need. No doubt he had heard of Jesus and His miraculous exploits.

For this synagogue rulers to approach Jesus could have jeopardized his position. Yet the plea was urgent (verse23). His daughter was dying.

Jesus accompanied Jairus back to his home. As He travelled, He was pressed from all sides by the large crowd-an important detail in light of the miracle involving the woman with the chronic bleeding. That set the stage for a sad message and a Joyous occasion, beginning in verse 35.

Scholars note that the delay itself could have meant the difference between her death and Jesus arriving in time to heal her sickness. As result, a woman, largely shunned by society had been healed even as the daughter of a respected ruler had died.

Question: What positives might be seen in Jesus’ delay in going to the girl?

This delay brought a greater miracle. The people gave up hope when the message of the girl’s death came (verse 35). But Jesus had greater plans.

Jesus ignored the crowd’s lack of faith, and instead encouraged the faith of Jairus (verse 36-37). Jesus separated from the crowd and took only His inner circle of disciples as He approached Jairus’ home. As was the custom, professional mourners  were hired for the funeral . Verse 38 indicates they have already arrived and were weeping and wailing. Because Jairus was a prominent man, many would have been employed. From a human standpoint, hope was lost.

Jesus’ remarks to the mourners brought scorn (verse 39-40). By saying the girl was only asleep, Jesus was foreshadowing  the miracle that is imminent. The mourners’ quick transition from weeping to laughter betrays the superficiality of their grief. Jesus and the three disciples remained.

Touching the dead girl would have made Jesus ritually unclean. But He focused on the healing. With a simple declaration in Aramaic, Talitha cumi ! (Talitha koum! NIV), the girl arose from the dead (verse41). (Aramaic was the common language among the Jews of Jesus’ day. Mark needed to translate Talitha cumi for the Gospel’s original intended audience, the Romans).

By giving this girl something to eat, Jesus showed concern for her physical need and demonstrated that she was really alive (verse 42). As  He had instructed in previous miracles, He asked that this be kept quiet, perhaps to maintain focus on His message of the Kingdom. Yet the populace was quickly leaning about the power of Christ to deliver the hurting from any and all afflictions.

B.    Delivered From Sin And Death. Hebrew 2 14-15.

Question: In what way does Jesus Deliver us from Death?

Physical death is a reality for all. Even those Jesus raised eventually died. His greatest ministry of deliverance, then, is the ability to deliver from spiritual death and bring eternal life. Hebrews 2 teaches that Jesus had to become human in order to be our sacrifice and deliver us from sin (verse 14). Though His suffering we found deliverance and eternal life. Death is defeated.

As a result, we are freed from fear that accompanies death (verse15). This extends beyond the terror one might feel at the prospect of dying, also offering assurance  that we will be delivered from the judgment of God that befalls those who die in their sins (Hebrews 9:27-28). Healing and deliverance are integral to the ministry of Jesus Christ. The ultimate manifestation of this is deliverance from sin and its horrific consequences. His salvation represents the greatest healing we can ever experience.

                 

                                         DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION 

An understanding of Christ’s delivering power is critical. Many people today are in bondage to sin and its consequence. Some have tried to break free from their sins without successes . Others have given up hope of ever changing. The message of this week’s lesson provides hope for all who are bondage to sin.

Perhaps you are confronted with a need for deliverance today. Does sickness hinder you and fill you with despair? Seek the Lord, praying in faith for healing and deliverance. Are you facing a seemingly insurmountable spiritual battle? First admit that such battles cannot be won in your own strength. Then ask the Lord for deliverance. And resolve to make decisions that will help you remain free from spiritual bondage in the future.

                                         Ministry In Action

Everybody in the class probably knows people who need to accept Jesus as savoiur . Also, many likely have friends or loved ones struggling with addictions or other forms  of bondage, leaving them in need of deliverance . Take time as a class to pray for these people, asking the Lord to open opportunities for students to minister hope through Jesus Christ.