Okay, so I really find it fun to people watch. When I lived in Bremerton, Washington there wasn't a lot to do so everyone just went to the mall (which was a pretty lame one at that). As I got older I realized it was kind of boring if you weren't shopping, but it had become a habit... basically it was a quick fix to a boring day. So I started to people watch... I'm just about as lame as the mall, aren't I?
Anyhow... so as I'd watch the people I'd wonder what their day was like, where they were going, why they were in the mood they seemed to be in, etc. I'd also do a little analytical thinking and try to come up with the answers... Don't judge me... I took psychology for a semester soooo... I'm basically a pro at this.
Once again... ANYHOW! So I sometimes wonder why people do what they do even when reading the scriptures. I've been reading the New Testament lately and a few stories have stuck out to me, all with a little darker edge on them but along the same lines...
The first is the story of Legions. In Mark 5 it says: "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones."
It stuck out to me that he was "crying and cutting himself with stones." Why is that I wonder? Was it because as spirits they can't have a physical body, therefore they will never quite feel anything like we do? Were they just trying to feel something, anything, even if it was pain? Who was crying, the man or the spirit? If the man, I totally see why! If the spirit, was it because he would never have what he was trying to possess? (Possess in ownership, not in a scary movie sort of way) Was he regretting his premarital decision?
The scripture goes on to say: "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not." This unclean spirit immediately recognized Christ and "ran and worshipped him." I find it interesting that even though he was on an opposing side he still worshipped him. Even if it was just bowing down or kneeling or whatever, he knew he had to respect him. I also find it interesting that he says "torment me not." How is Christ tormenting him, is it because his sheer presence reminds the spirit that he made the wrong decision and will never be in his presence again.
There's a verse that always struck me. Its in the Book of Mormon, and its 2 Nephi 9. It says: "And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins." That's what this verse reminds me of. They're beholding his face and remaining in their sin... they will never be able to be with Him... Spiritual Death... minus the gift of the atonement.
Okay, so getting back to the scripture about Legions... it goes on to say: "For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea."
Okay, first thought... so there's a heard of swine and what? Instead of being without a physical body they say put us in them. At least it something? So they go in and the swine run into the water. Why'd they do that? Was it because the spirits were so destructive and swine being without a mind to act and reason as humans do, couldn't stop the self destruction heaved upon them by Legions. Or is it because the swine were smarter than the humans and knew something bad had entered them and willingly went into the water to free themselves of it? This makes me think of another scripture, still in the BOM. This time Helaman 12: "O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth. For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God."
Okay, first thought... so there's a heard of swine and what? Instead of being without a physical body they say put us in them. At least it something? So they go in and the swine run into the water. Why'd they do that? Was it because the spirits were so destructive and swine being without a mind to act and reason as humans do, couldn't stop the self destruction heaved upon them by Legions. Or is it because the swine were smarter than the humans and knew something bad had entered them and willingly went into the water to free themselves of it? This makes me think of another scripture, still in the BOM. This time Helaman 12: "O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth. For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God."
Anyhow, I won't write anymore, but suffice it to say that there are a handful of other experiences when someone/something from the other side of the veil see's Christ and recognizes him for who He is, and its just interesting, the interaction. Christ even silences them so that the people could make the decision on their own, to believe or not to believe in Him. Its all very interesting. Probably not the most positively interesting, but for some crazy reason it stuck out to me.
