March 16, 2015

“They came to…the country of the Gerasenes. And when (Jesus) came out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High G*d?” Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” He begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. He gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine. People came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion.”
Mark 5:1-20

“Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile;
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar, now two, only two
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars once, three dollars twice
Going for three.” But no –
From the room far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up all the strings
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going, and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand-
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply,
“The touch of the Master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.

A mess of pottage, a life of shame
A game and he travels on.
He’s going once, he’s going twice,
He’s going and almost gone.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.”

“The Touch Of The Master’s Hand”

Pastor Dave