Jesus: The Agent of Change

As a Pastor there are many experiences that bring my heart great joy; God's gift of a baby to a young family; the look on the faces of a couple as I lead them in their marital vows; and the praise offered to God for His mercy in healing a sick congregat to name a few. Hardly does a week go by that I am not thanking God for these and other privileges in my work, but there is nothing more exciting than to witness the dramatic change in a person's life who has met the risen Christ. In a word, that experience is simply amazing. And as many times as I've witnessed it, I still marvel at how Christ changes lives.

Honestly, that should come as no surprise to me because Jesus Christ is the deliverer. He delivers people from all that stands against them--their sin, their guilt, the devil, demonic influence, and most importantly, the wrath of God. So there should be no surprise that when people have a saving encounter with Jesus Christ that they are dramatically changed.

This reality was freshly driven home to my own heart this Sunday as I preached on Mark 5:1-20, where Jesus delivers a man who is possessed by a "legion" of demons. The nameless man was in bondage to these demons and lived a isolated, defiled, and destructive life. He was helpless and hopeless; a state of utter desperation and despair. But then he met Jesus, and all that changed.

In verses 13-20 of this passage, Mark records one of the most dramatic changes in all the Bible, illustrating for us the delivering power of Christ and the resultant change that accompanies it. The demon possessed man encounters Christ and everything in his life changes:

• His Character Changed --> Before Christ he was running around naked in the desecrated tombs and caverns among the stinch and filth of rotting dead bodies. His mind was tortured as he constantly gashed himself with rocks. But after he experienced the delivering power of Christ, he was found sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind (v. 15)

• His Company Changed --> Before Christ he was isolated from humanity, held captive by the host of demons. But after Christ delivered him, he was begging Jesus "to be with Him"; a sure posture of discipleship (v.18)
  
  
• His Conversation Changed --> Before Christ he was screaming and howling like a wild beast and speaking the vile words of evil spirits. But after he experienced the power of Jesus, he went about proclaiming the great things that the Lord had done for him (v.20)

Yea, no doubt about his change. And that's what thrills my soul to witness. No, I've never known anyone who has been delivered from demon possession, but God does give me the privilege and joy to know people who have been delivered from their sins by the power of Jesus Christ, and the change they experience is still amazing.