Good morning, everyone. Thank you for your prayers these past several days.
Our verse for today comes from Mark 5:19, “However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you,'”
A lot sure can happen when Jesus comes on the scene. Take, for example, the passage here in Mark 5. Jesus sails across the Sea of Galilee and is met on the shore by a man who is possessed by, perhaps, thousands of demons. These demons immediately worship the Son of God and beg for His mercy as He commands them to come out of the man. As there is a herd of swine nearby, they ask Jesus if they might enter them and remain in that same country. Jesus allows it, and the herd run directly off the cliff and drown. As the people rush from town to see what happened, they are fearful of what they discover, and they plead with Jesus to leave their land. As Jesus loads up in the boat, the man who was healed begs Jesus to take him with Him. Imagine the scenario developing. An entire region of people had just seen Jesus heal a man of demons more powerful than chains and shackles, powerful, evil, and numerous enough to destroy two thousand swine. And now they were pleading with Him to leave, ignoring any reasons He could give them to stay. And this was the community that the man was being left behind with. Here he was, a first-hand recipient of the amazing power of Jesus, and the people he was going to live among wanted nothing to do with his healer. No wonder he begged Jesus to take him with Him.
But Jesus wouldn’t allow it. He gives him the command that He gives to all of us. He tells him to go home to his friends and tell them of God’s great mercy and compassion. He sends him back to his family, his co-workers, his neighborhood, and the surrounding towns to spread the good news of his new life. And he obeys. He goes to the people, a lone voice fulfilling the great commission before Jesus gave it, and the people marvel. Jesus healed him and cast out thousands of demons, and they ran Him off. This man tells what happened to him, and they marvel. Jesus has healed us, and He can work through us, too. So let’s go and tell what great things He has done.
As we seek Him today, think about what you are telling your family, friends, and neighborhood. Are you telling them anything, or are you just hoping they might hear something?
Have a wonderful Monday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
