“Peter exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.” (Mark 9:5–6 NLT)

Sometimes the words just hang in the air for a moment. That awful moment when you realize too late that you should have kept quiet. That moment when you and the people listening to you silently ask the same question: Why did you just say that?

When was the last time you said something that you wish you hadn’t said? Something that may have sounded perfect in your head as the words were formulating, but somehow turned unbelievably lame as they left your mouth?

It happens to the best of us. It happened to Peter. At just about the worst time imaginable.

Jesus had led Peter, James, and John, the disciples in his inner circle, up a mountain for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The event is known as the Transfiguration. God briefly allowed Jesus’ disciples to see Jesus in His glory. Jesus’ face and clothes suddenly shone like the sun. Moses and Elijah, two of the most revered figures in Jewish history, appeared and spoke with Him.

It would be hard to imagine a more profound, life-changing experience. It would be hard to imagine a scene more fitting for respectful, awestruck silence. It would be hard to imagine a situation less suited for Peter.

Unable to contain himself, Peter interrupted the conversation—once again, involving Jesus, Moses, and Elijah—to blurt out, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mark 9:5 NLT). Mark adds this interesting commentary: “He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified” (verse 6 NLT).

I wonder if Moses turned to Jesus and asked, “Who is that guy?”

Or if Jesus rolled His eyes a little and replied, “Oh, that’s Rock. Never mind.”

How easily thoughts can jump into our minds and then out of our mouths before we fully process them. How much better would it be if we could just hit a momentary delay button and ask ourselves, “Is this the right thing to say? Would this be an appropriate statement to make? Would this glorify the Lord?”

As the old proverb says, “Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

The author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. . . . A time to be quiet and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7). If you don’t know how to “tell the time” where your tongue is concerned, ask God to help you. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (NLT).

Reflection question: When is it appropriate for you to be quiet? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” (Mark 5:15–17 NLT)

In our previous two devotions, we looked at the story in Mark 5 of Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes. The man terrified the people in the region until Jesus drove the demons out of him and into a nearby herd of pigs. The demon-possessed pigs, around two thousand in all, rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they drowned.

The Gospels record several different reactions to Jesus’ miraculous acts of healing and unmistakable displays of power. But the reaction of the Gerasenes stands apart. When the people saw the formerly demon-possessed man, “sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane . . . they were all afraid” (Mark 5:15 NLT). So, not much had really changed for them. Instead of being afraid of the demon-possessed man, they were now afraid of the One who had healed him. So afraid, in fact, that they began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone (see verse 17).

Mark doesn’t explain why the people reacted as they did. It may be that witnessing such supernatural power unnerved them. It may be that they were upset about the financial losses tied to the drowned pigs. Or it may be that Jesus’ presence made them realize that they preferred darkness to His light.

Whatever the case, their reasons for wanting to be rid of Jesus two thousand years ago are not nearly as relevant as the motives of people today who want nothing to do with Him. The reality is that anyone who doesn’t say, “Jesus, I want to be close to You,” is saying, “Jesus, go away. I don’t want You in my life.”

Some might protest and say, “Now, wait a second. I admit that I haven’t yet made a commitment to Christ. I’m simply saying I haven’t decided yet.” But if you don’t say yes to Jesus, you are essentially telling Him to go away. Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Luke 11:23 NLT). Either you have faith and trust in Christ, or you have unbelief. There is no other option.

Though you may not have spoken the words, “Jesus, go away,” there’s a chance that you’ve communicated them indirectly. Maybe you’ve resisted God’s work in your heart. Maybe you don’t want to give up some things in your life that you know are wrong. Or maybe you’re just too busy—you have time for everything but Jesus.

It really boils down to this: What have you done with Jesus? Are you going to say, “Go away”? Or are you going to ask Him to become a part of your life?

Reflection question: What can you do to welcome Jesus into your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.” (Mark 5:3–4 NLT)

Mark 5 tells the story of Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes. In our last devotion, we looked at the spirit of fear the man inspired. Today we’re going to talk about the problem he presented and, specifically, what to do when a problem is bigger than our ability to solve.

Obviously, the demon-possessed man was a pressing problem for the people in the region of the Gerasenes. He was society’s problem back in the day. And if you read between the lines of Mark 5:3–4, you get a glimpse of how society handled the problem. “He was put into chains and shackles” (verse 4 NLT). Society’s solution was to limit his freedom, to incapacitate him so that he wouldn’t be a menace to others. The snapped chains and smashed shackles tell us how well society’s solution worked.

Obviously, community intervention can be a valuable resource for people who are struggling. But in this case, the man’s struggle was spiritual. The community could do nothing to help him because the problem exceeded their resources.

Isn’t it interesting that with all our wonderful achievements today, society still cannot deal with problems caused by Satan and sin? We cannot overcome Satan in our own power. We don’t know what to do. Society doesn’t have the answers. Like the demon-possessed man, we need a Savior to help us.

Look at what happened when the Savior came into the man’s life. Jesus went to the spooky little graveyard where the man lived. Jesus looked past the man’s horrific physical appearance and saw the hurting, tortured soul within. And Jesus offered what was His exclusively to give: hope.

What society could not do to release the man from Satan and sin, Jesus did with one simple command. “Come out of the man, you evil spirit” (Mark 5:8 NLT). Immediately, the demons came out of the man, as commanded. Jesus transformed the man’s life by setting him free. That’s what He does. In John 8:36, He says, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (NLT).

Jesus does what no one else can. He reaches those no one else can. If this story of the demon-possessed man teaches us anything, it’s that no one is ever too far gone for the Lord. No one is ever a lost cause. There is always reason for hope.

Jesus Christ can transform your life and make you free, too. God’s people know that’s true, because He has already done it for us. Come to Him; let Him make you free. Let Him be your Savior.

Reflection question: What does it mean to you that no one is ever too far gone, as far as the Lord is concerned? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.