by Pastor Paul Jehle
“Let us pass over to the other side.” – Mark 4:35
The chronology of events in Jesus ministry highlighted by Mark chapters 4 and 5 help us to see that testing follows teaching as God prepares us to minister.
The story of the storm at sea with Jesus sleeping in the boat reminds us that we are to have confidence in God so that we trust Him during the storms in our lives – for the primary storm to be stilled is the one in our hearts!
But the purpose of testing us is to prepare us for ministry “on the other side.” The other side was a place called the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1-20). Gadara was one of the ten cities that made up the Decapolis. These were Gentiles, outside the primary mission to Jews.
We are all being prepared to minister to others that don’t go to church, believe the way that we do, or even desire to be helped. The purpose of hearing teaching is to prepare to be tested so that what we believe is a conviction and not just a preference.
The real goal of teaching, however, is not the test, but the putting into practice what one has learned. This is true wisdom, applying the knowledge you have to help others.
To do this, we must understand what we will face. We will face and find people who are desperate to be free from the addictions they have, be it spiritual or physical. Knowing that all physical addictions begin as spiritual ones (sin) will help us as we minister.
The two individuals who were so terribly bound by sin and spiritual forces evidently wanted freedom. It is important to realize that no force on earth, sin or demonic, can keep one from choosing Christ if the Spirit of God draws and the heart is desperate for help.
Let us be reminded that people all around us are desperate to be free!