Prayer and Study Guide Daily Scripture Readings — 10/4/20

Monday – Read Mark 4:35-5:1 and Luke 8:22-26. “Let us go across to the other side.” One day, Jesus casually said, “Let us go across to the other side. The disciples were not happy about this, but they went. The “other side” of the lake was the region of Decapolis, the “ten cities.” This was enemy territory. The people there were pagans. The Decapolis is where the seven nations of Canaan settled. It was filled with pagan temples featuring exaltations of violence or sexual expression or greed that was everything that Israel was not. Moreover, the pig, the most unclean animal in Israel, was regarded as sacred and used in worship on the other side. The Jews regard- ed the other side as the place where Satan lived. It was dark, evil, oppressive, and demonic. No one would go to the other side— especially a rabbi. In the Old Testament, God promised to drive “the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites” out of the Promised Land. God had taken the land of the seven nations of Canaan and given it to Israel. Decapolis was also a center of Roman power. It housed a legion of six thousand Roman soldiers. The symbol of a Roman legion was a boar’s head. Jesus wants to go to the other side. What was he doing? Didn’t he know that the kingdom is for our side? It’s almost as if he didn’t know that this is the other side. It’s almost as if he thought it’s his side. It’s almost as if he thought every side belonged to him, or that he belonged to every side. It’s almost as if he thought that all the peoples of the earth were now going to be blessed through him— even the seven nations of Canaan. Whose side are you on? We humans are side-takers. We tend to divide the human race into us ver- sus them. But Jesus regarded himself as the Man for All Sides. How is Jesus calling you to go across to the other side? As you pray, ask Jesus to help you find opportunities to minister to people on the other side so that we may all be united in the name of Jesus.

Tuesday – Read Mark 5:1-10; Luke 8:26-29; Genesis 1:26-27. Jesus and the Possessed Man. This man was isolated. People kept their distance from the man and would not even let him live among them. God created all people in the image of God. However, this man appears to have lost even the image of God that makes him human. He lived like a wild animal among the dead and repeatedly harmed himself because he did not like himself. The possessed man wanted nothing to do with Jesus and found his very presence painful. He loved his demons and did not want to be separated from them. We may find it difficult to identify with the man, who is obviously insane, but in a variety of ways this madman reveals a basic truth about us all. When we fall under the power of a demon or an addiction, we cling to it. We seek comfort from the very thing that harms us, and we crave the pain because it has become a nor- mal part of our lives. But Jesus would not let these demons have power over the man. He commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Jesus loved the man and had power to free him from these demons. Spend some time praying for people who struggle with mental illness or addictions.

Wednesday – Read Mark 5:9-17 and Luke 8:30-37. Jesus and the Demons. Jesus asked the evil spirit, “What is your name?” To know the name is to discover the inner character and to exercise power over someone. The man said, “Legion, for we are many.” The essen- tial nature of the demonic power is multiplicity, disorder, and violence. Legion is a loaded word in this story. A Roman legion consist- ed of 6,000 infantry and 120 cavalry; and the term legion might be used for a battalion of 2,048 soldiers. A Roman legion of soldiers lived in Gerasa. That word is a reminder of enemies all around. But Jesus is more powerful than demons, and he is more powerful than the Roman army. As soon as Jesus steps foot on Gentile territory a legion prostrates itself before him. In Luke’s Gospel, the de- mons do not want to be sent back to the abyss because it was a prison for them. The demons asked to be sent into 2,000 pigs. The pig was also the symbol of the Roman power of the legion. The pig was regarded as sacred and used in worship on the other side. But the joke was on the demons. When Jesus sends them into the pigs, the pigs destroy themselves and drown the demons in the sea. As you pray, ask Jesus to free you from any demons who torment you.

Thursday – Read Mark 5:14-17; Luke 8:34-37; I John 4:18. Jesus and the Gerasenes. The crowd’s response is fascinating. Those tend- ing the pigs ran off and reported the man’s deliverance. The people on the other side came over to see what had happened. They saw the crazed man dressed and in his right mind. They didn’t respond to this miracle like those in Galilee or Jerusalem. They didn’t start bringing Jesus their sick children or crippled friends. They begged him to go away. Why? Because he had power, but he wasn’t one of them. He was from the wrong side, and he might use his power to hurt them. Fear of the “other” kept them from welcoming Jesus at this time. Ask Jesus to replace your fear with faith and love so that you may welcome Jesus and go with him to the other side.

Friday – Read Mark 5:18-20 and Luke 8:38-39. Go and Tell. So often, Jesus said, “Come and follow me.” The man whom Jesus healed begged Jesus to let him go with him, but Jesus would not let him. Instead, Jesus told the man, “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.” Can you imagine how this man felt as the boat rowed away and he wasn’t in it? But he did what Jesus told him to do. He told his story, and all of the people were amazed. We all have a story to tell about what Jesus has done for us and how the Lord has shown mercy to us. What is your story? What has Jesus done for you? How has Jesus shown mercy to you? Who are you going to tell? Spend some time thinking about the ways Jesus has blessed you and healed you. Take some time today or this weekend to write down the story of what Jesus has done for you and how he has had mercy on you. As you pray, ask Jesus to give you the strength to share your story with someone you know this weekend.

Saturday – Read Mark 7:31-8:10; 8:14-21. Jesus and the Decapolis. The man whom Jesus healed did what Jesus told him to do. He went and told everyone what Jesus had done for him, and all the people were amazed. When Jesus returned to Decapolis a short time later great crowds came to see him. They brought the sick to Jesus to be healed. The seven nations of Canaan were praising the God of Israel. The first time Jesus came to the other side, no one welcomed him. The second time he came, people were more receptive to Jesus here than anywhere he had ever gone because they heard that Jesus cared about someone on “their side.” When Jesus fed the 5,000 on Israel’s side of the lake they collected twelve baskets of left over food because God cares for his people. When Jesus fed the 4,000, they collected seven baskets of food because Jesus cares about the seven nations of Canaan, too. Jesus brought Good News to Israel, and he also brought Good News to the seven nations of Canaan. As you pray, consider how Jesus is calling you to minster to people on “the other side.”

Lectionary Readings: Exodus 20:1-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4-14; Matthew 21:33-46.

Find more info about Nichols Hills United Methodist Church at nicholshillsumc.org.