The Butterfly Circus

You have to watch this short film The Butterfly Circus.

Tombs, begging, and Jesus

I am sitting in Mocha Jo's, a coffee shop in a nearby town, working on my message for this Wednesday. We are currently in our fifth week in our study thru the Gospel of Mark. We have had some great turnouts and some great responses to the messages. It is definitely God working, not me. This week we are going to be studying the healing of the demoniac (Mark 5:1-20).

This is a very interesting story. Here are a few observations that I have made. First, the word "tomb" shows up three times (vv 2, 3, 5) in the first five verses. This is significant because it is all centered around the man. This man is living in death. He is trying to kill himself, but he is not able too. The demons are forcing this man to live in the tombs because he can't live in the city, and now he wants to commit death...interesting. Secondly, the word "begged" shows up four times (vv 10, 12, 17-pleads, 18). The demons beg Jesus, the crowds beg Jesus, and the man begs Jesus. The sense of persistence is prevailing here. Jesus answers yes to the demons and the crowds, but no the man. He was bigger plans for the man. Jesus is not about giving out the easy options, but instead the man is to stay and share his story with the crowds who want nothing to do with Jesus.

So what is the message here for teenagers?

I think that we all can relate to this story. We probably have all been in a position in our life where we just want life to be over. This man ostracized and was forced to live by himself. He didn't see anything worth living, he wanted to be dead. He tried cutting himself, and other self mutilation tactics. Have you been here?

Most teenagers have been or are currently in this place. But there is good news. Jesus didn't leave the man in his condition. He released him from his bondage and changed his life forever. The message is simple...Jesus is worth living for and thru him we are able to be released from whatever is holding us back.

But the message continues too, it doesn't end here. Jesus tells the man to embrace his old identity, to use it as a witnessing tool. He wants to go with Jesus. He wants to leave the past behind, but Jesus says no! He wants the man to use this as an example of mercy and grace that was shown, to show people the message of God.

When we get cleaned up, when our life is changed, we should be like this man and everyone should know it. No two people's stories are the same. Use your story as a witnessing opportunity. God wants to use you where are you are and where you have been.