See What Jesus Has Done For Me!

“And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 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.”” Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬
  • I love this story of how Jesus heals the man who had a demon. But I’ve often wondered why the people of the area begged Jesus to leave their region. I would think they would want Him to stay after witnessing how the demon possessed man was healed. 
  • So I decided to get a little background on this country of the Gerasenes. The people of this area were Gentiles. So most likely they were pagans. Being pagans, they probably had many gods, so who knows what their gods required of them. No wonder they were afraid! Perhaps that is why they asked  Jesus to leave? Maybe they were afraid of what else He would do? Maybe they were afraid of what He would require of them? What they would have to give up, or what lifestyle changes they would have to make? As pagans, perhaps they wouldn't have grown up learning about the coming Messiah. They wouldn't have been there when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, in John 1:29,..."Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world"! And probably they wouldn't have heard the voice from heaven proclaim, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased". (Matthew 3:17) They had no idea who Jesus was! So isn't it just like Jesus to reveal himself in a way that would best fit them where they were at! He didn’t force Himself upon them. Instead when the man who was now free from the demons wanted to go with Him, Jesus said no, go home and tell others all I have done for you. 
  • Sometimes Jesus ask’s us to stay. This man had just been freed from the “demons” that possessed him. We don’t know what the demons were, but they tortured his soul. And now that Jesus had set him free, he wanted to go with Him. Perhaps because he didn’t want the reminders of all he had been through; he didn’t want to remember the pain. But Jesus said no. Go and tell others all I have done for you; about the mercy you have been shown. Perhaps others would be saved through this man’s witness. Once Jesus has set us free, how easy it would be to leave certain circumstances behind,especially if they’re uncomfortable or remind us of our past. But sometimes Jesus says stay. Let others see and come to know all I have done for you. Let others see God’s great mercy through your life. Who knows who might be saved:)

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