Afraid, Astonished, and Offended (Mark 5-7)
The story of the Maniac of Gadara has always amazed me. Here is a man that was so crazed and powerful that he could not be tamed or controlled, even with chains. The amazing thing though was that the men of that country did not seem to be afraid of him, rather, they were annoyed. So they tried, time and again, to bind him. When Jesus shows up the demons within the man are cast out into the swine who are subsequently destroyed, now here is the amazing thing, “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid” (Mark 5:15).
Do not be afraid, Christ has power over all things.
Why were they afraid? In chapter six the woman with an issue of blood was afraid when she was healed. Herod was afraid when he supposed that John was risen from the dead. The disciples were afraid when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Because of Jesus many were astonished and offended. This is true even today!
A lack of knowledge and sin will cause us to be afraid of that which we have no need to be afraid of. Come to know Jesus, obey him, be faithful to him, and know that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).