There are parts of the old Jason I want gone forever. I’ve had my struggles, like anyone in life. I still do. There are parts of all our lives we want to be dead and remain dead. Perhaps we avoid certain circles so the past doesn’t resurface.
Maybe you’ve avoided a family reunion or high school reunion because of this. Maybe you avoid certain towns or shopping centers because of whom you might bump into. Maybe this situation has recently happened you. Maybe you found yourself in a situation having to defend the new you because of the old you. It stinks.
"Maybe you found yourself in a situation having to defend the new you because of the old you."
As I listen through the Bible, something caught my attention recently.
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Luke 8:1-3
Something jumped out at me that I probably should have known, Mary Magdalene was once demon possessed. I’d probably been taught it but it never stuck in my head. One of the reasons is because she was never treated as one who had been demon possessed.
When it comes to that old life, it wasn’t just one demon, but seven! Not that you want to be the poster child of demon possession, but if there is one, it’s Mary!
Demon possession is something we don’t see much of in America, but it’s real. Perhaps we do see, we just don’t know it. Perhaps there are people that we have written off that are fighting real demons. I don’t say this lightly. It’s not something to take lightly.
Are we praying for people in the battles they are fighting? Are we willing to extend to people the gift of restoration? To bring them in our circle with full trust?
I didn’t put two and two together with Mary because she was never again treated as one who was demon possessed.
If that is how people saw her, why would God make her one of the first (the first) eyewitness of the empty tomb? As she runs saying the tomb is empty, that is some weird stuff. To treat her as old demon possessed Mary would have led to “Welp, there goes crazy Mary again.” To eventually tell people, “Guys, I talked to an angel, a real angel, JESUS IS ALIVE!” People could have easily said “Yaaaaa Mary, an angel or one of your demons again? Come on Mary.”
"But she was treated as someone that was made new by Jesus."
But she was treated as someone that was made new by Jesus. Why? Because she was. How can one be living and dead at the same time. You can’t. You are one or the other.
I read this at every baptism;
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ~Romans 6:4-11
You’ve said yes to a relationship with Jesus? Let the past be dead. Live the new (different) life that Christ offers. The past life only brought death, why go back? You’ve been made new, you are now living, so LIVE AS SUCH.
"You’ve been made new, you are now living, so LIVE AS SUCH."
You know someone with a past, as you have a past? Do you treat them as you hope others would treat you? Are you someone that certain people want to avoid because you might bring up the past? Or because you might treat them as if the past is still the present? How does Christ treat them in light of their past? Complete forgiveness, full fellowship and relationship with Him. We should act likewise.
Mary didn’t have to live haunted by her past. God put her in leadership positions. She was a vital part of what God was doing. She was the first women to the tomb, she was at the cross, she was with Jesus as He was proclaiming the gospel. Jesus didn’t see her as a black eye or hindrance to His message. In fact, she was made for the message because we serve a God of life change.
"In fact, she was made for the message because we serve a God of life change."
May we view ourselves as NEW. May we live as NEW. May we treat others as NEW. May we live in trust of God who makes all things NEW.
Pray for One!
Pastor Jason Coache,
Lead Pastor at Wellspring Church
Click here to learn more about Wellspring Church in Toms River!
