Mark 5:18-20 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
I hope you caught the description Mark gives of this demon possessed man whom Jesus healed. He lived alone, was wild and violent, was slashing himself, and Luke in his account adds the fact that he was naked. Talk about a sorry, horrible, miserable life - this man lived it! Yet Jesus does not shy away from this man (as I am sure most people did). Instead he confronts the demons possessing him and orders them OUT! And out they went ... into a herd of pigs which the demons quickly destroyed by compelling them to jump over the cliff and into the sea (this is what demons are all about - destroying the creative work of God's hands).
This man experienced a stunning deliverance. Naturally he wanted to be with the man who had so graciously and powerfully delivered him. But Jesus had other plans for him. The instructions Jesus gave to this man .... are good instructions for all of us. After all, we too, were once in a tragic bondage to sin .. and if it weren't for Jesus delivering us, we would still held captive in our miserable estate.
So ... like the demonic whom Jesus set free ... we too, should go to our friends and family and "tell them how much the Lord had done for us, and how he had mercy on us." We sure don't need a formal theology degree to do that!
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
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