No One Is Too Far Gone | Mark 5:1-5

The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

And today’s shout-out goes to Cory Baron from North Oaks, MN. Cory, thank you for standing with us through Project23. Your commitment is helping others step out of darkness and into the light. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 5:1-5:

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. — Mark 5:1-5

Jesus and his disciples land in Gentile territory—on the far side of the sea. And the moment they step out of the boat, they’re met by a man.

But not just any man.

He’s a strange man who lives among the dead. He’s naked. Bleeding. Tormented. Possessed by a legion of demons. (A legion was about 6,000—so this was a case of extreme demonization.)

We read that no one could bind him. Not with ropes. Not even with chains. He had legion-like strength—and a soul consumed by suffering. So he lived alone. Crying out. Cutting himself. Unreachable. Unrestrained. Unhealed.

This is what evil does. When we give ourselves over to it, evil isolates. It dehumanizes. It pulls us away from people—and pushes us further from peace.

But notice—Jesus went out of his way to reach this far-out man. He crossed a violent sea to reach a violent man in a foreign land. To reach an outcast, everyone else had given up on.

Jesus doesn’t move away from the broken. He moves toward them.

Maybe today you feel like this man—alone, tormented, ashamed. Or maybe you’ve written someone off, thinking they’re too far gone.

You’re wrong. No one is too far from Jesus—not you, not them. Because Jesus can reach anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Today, if you’ve drifted—come back to Jesus, the one who came for you. And if you’ve given up on someone—don’t. Pray that God would send someone who represents Him to move close. Or ask Him if that someone is you.

#TheDaily #Mark5 #JesusHeals #NoOneTooFarGone #FreedomInChrist #ComeBackToJesus

ASK THIS:

1. What does this man's condition reveal about the power of evil?

2. How does Jesus' arrival in this scene reflect His character and mission?

3. Have you ever felt unreachable—or believed someone else was?

4. What would it look like for Jesus to step into that place today?

DO THIS:

Think of one person (maybe it's even you) who seems beyond hope—and pray specifically for Jesus to move toward them in power, just as He did for the man among the tombs.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, thank you for stepping into places no one else would. Help me believe you can reach anyone—including me. And help me not to give up on those who still need your touch. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Rescue" by Lauren Daigle.