As we continue our "Go and . . ." series, this week we look at Jesus' words to the man whom Jesus delivered from the torment of a Legion of demons. After the man was clothed and in his right mind, we read about what happened when Jesus got in the boat to depart:
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed (Mark 5:18-20).
Jesus did not allow the man to go with him, but instead told him to go home and tell his family, friends, and neighbors what Jesus had done for him. Let's examine this strategy that sent this man back home.
THE MAN HAD A STORY
We learn that this man was from a region that is today known as Jordan, but then was a collection of 10 cities or regions on the far eastern side of the Roman Empire that were hubs for Greek and Roman culture. This man was a spiritually-oppressed Gentile and Jesus went out of His way to come find the man to set him free. The man was so grateful and impacted by what Jesus did that He wanted to begged Jesus to accompany Him wherever He was going. Instead, Jesus sent him home to tell his fellow Gentiles what God had done for Him.
I can understand why the man wanted to be with Jesus. Hours earlier, he was tormented by a pack of devils that, when released from him, entered into 2,000 swine that immediately went stampeding down a hill and drowned in the lake. Can you imagine the stench and mess from 2,000 pig carcasses floating in the Sea of Galilee? The man had a story, however, and Jesus wanted him to spread the word about his miracle, perhaps as a harbinger of the good news that would infect the world after Jesus' departure. The man had a story and Jesus told him to go home and make a spectacle of himself, to draw a crowd and declare what he knew about God's mercy.
YOU HAVE A STORY TOO
You have a story too and you probably have the same desire as the man had. You want to stay close to Jesus and perhaps have even said, "I just want to be where you are, Lord." That often means being close to Jesus in your devotional life or in church. Jesus basically told the man, "I don't want you to be where I am; I want you to go where I am not." The man obeyed, but all we know is that the people were amazed. There are no reports of any from his audience coming the Lord for themselves.
When I say that God wants you to go where He isn't, what comes to mind? Do you think of missions or door-to-door visitation? That may be what God has in mind for you, but that may not be practical or feasible. But I know what is, and that is to use the technology available to you to tell how much Jesus has done for you. You can write a book, record a testimony, compose a poem, pen and put on a one-person play. Instead of using Facebook to tell people that you went to mall or washed your hair, tell them about God's goodness.
Since I have started my publishing company, I encounter many people who tell me that God told them to write. Many say they will call me and follow through, but most don't. They talk themselves out of it and instead just "stay close to Jesus" in prayer and devotions. That's good but that's not writing a book.
It's interesting that Jesus sent the man home perhaps because it was how the man could maintain his deliverance. You wonder, "How could the man stay free by being apart from Jesus?" Perhaps Jesus had Revelation 12:11 in mind before It was ever written: "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Perhaps some of your freedom and deliverance isn't in staying close to Jesus, but in sharing your testimony? if it is, then no amount of wishful thinking or spiritually sounding "I want to be close to the Lord" will do the job. You are going to have to do what the man did, and that was obey Jesus, go home, and tell everyone how once he lived with a bunch of devils but God set him free. Who knows who is desperately waiting to hear your report. Have a blessed week.
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