The Soloist is a wonderful movie based on the true story of a homeless man and his friendship with a well-known writer for the Los Angeles Times. The writer was sitting in a park one day and heard a homeless man playing a violin that had only two strings. He was intrigued and, after a conversation, decided to write about homelessness.

The story that unfolded was amazing. The homeless man, Nathanial Ayres, was a musical genius who had attended the prestigious Juilliard School but dropped out after only two years. No one knew why. The truth, discovered later, was that he suffered schizophrenia. When he played his instrument, sometimes he would hear voices. Soon, he could no longer exist in everyday society, so he dropped out, moved to Los Angeles, and became homeless. What a tragedy.

The writer, Steve Lopez, slowly but grudgingly befriended the violinist. In the end, Ayres began the long road to recovery while Lopez learned volumes about himself. It is a very moving story. It isn’t unlike the thousands of true stories of those who have met Jesus through the ages.

POWER OVER DARKNESS
Mark 5 records one of those stories. Jesus traveled to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee where he encountered a homeless man possessed by a legion of demons. He was a violent and tortured soul.

People throughout the region feared this tomb dweller who possessed almost superhuman strength. Chains could no longer bind him, and he spent his days abusing himself and screaming in anguish. The eerie sounds must have echoed through the mountains along the sea.

The demons inside him immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God and begged him not to drive them from the area. So Jesus sent the hideous creatures into a herd of pigs that then rushed into the sea and drowned. The people of the town were amazed and afraid of Jesus. Meanwhile, the once-tormented man now sat at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and at peace.

Throughout the first few chapters of Mark, Jesus demonstrates his deep compassion for the lost and his complete power over darkness. Neither illness nor demonic possession was a match for the Son of God. Jesus frequently helped those whom society had rejected.

For discussion: What does it take to change the way we view people like Nathanial Ayres or the demon-possessed man of Mark 5?

FEARFUL OF THE DEMONS
The people of the area had basically written off the demon-possessed man. They had no idea what to do with him. Verse 3 indicates his condition must have worsened over time. “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more” (Mark 5:3, emphasis mine). He was out of their control, so the best they could do was to stay away from him.

For discussion: Do you ever find yourself fearful of initiating a helpful relationship with someone who has serious life issues? If so, why?

TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLE
The demons knew Jesus would do something with them, but they didn’t know what. Even the demons recognized that Jesus couldn’t tolerate the presence and power of evil. Jesus simply couldn’t stand by and allow evil to wreak havoc with a child of God. He must act. Jesus taught his followers that they must do the same. Christians cannot sit on the sidelines in their community and the world.

For discussion: Read Matthew 5:13-16. In what ways is your church, as a fellowship of Christ followers, making a compassionate and powerful difference in your community? Could your church do more? Should it do more? If so, brainstorm some ideas how this might happen.

Are there certain groups of “untouchables” who tend to get little help from the church, or society? (Examples: the mentally disabled, those with special needs, the elderly, single mothers, the homeless, etc. We have families in our church with autistic children. They have been asked to leave other churches that did not want to deal with their problems.)

DESTROYED BY SATAN
The demons also assumed Jesus would punish them. There was no question Jesus was far more powerful and could do whatever he liked with them. It is amazing that even the demons appealed for mercy from the Son of God (v. 10). So Jesus allowed the demons to enter a herd of pigs that immediately drowned themselves. It’s an accurate picture of what happens any time the presence of Satan is near. Jesus said, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

TELLING GOOD NEWS
The community’s reaction was very sad. People were more concerned about the money lost on a herd of pigs than the incredible healing of such a pathetic soul. Did they not consider Jesus might have cared for all kinds of people in their community?

In any case, the freed man was eternally grateful. Jesus instructed him to go tell his family about the Lord’s mercy, and the man spoke about Jesus throughout Decapolis. The man must have provided an effective witness, for we know many people accepted the gospel in that region.

Our instructions are the same. “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19). Once we truly recognize Jesus, we cannot help but follow his example.

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* All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.