But he would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Mark 5:19 NABRE
Mark shares a story of Jesus coming upon a man possessed by demons. He is living in tombs, sometimes shackled to keep him from others and from hurting himself. The demon has so much power within him even chains can’t keep him contained. When Jesus arrives the man prostrates himself before Jesus and wants to know what Jesus has to do with him. An example of a demon being aware of Jesus’ true identity and power. Jesus calls for the unclean Spirit to come out of the man. Pleading with Jesus not to drive him away, Jesus sends the spirit into a nearby herd of swine. The people were astonished at the change in the man, he was sitting, clothed and in his right mind. The sight of the man puts fear into the people who knew him in his demoniac mind. As Jesus leaves the man was so attracted to Jesus’ charisma, and power he asks Jesus if he can come with him. This is a surprise because the man would have been isolated and truly excommunicated from his family and community. But for him Jesus was more enthralling and he would rather go with Jesus than even return to his family. Jesus rather he returns to his family and announce to everyone all that the Lord has done in his life. This is the first and only time Mark talks about Jesus creating an evangelist, someone who has had a personal experience of God and is anointed to share it with people whom he knows.
We are asked to live like the healed man. The only way to become a true disciple is to have an experience of Jesus. Jesus’ mission is to create others like this man who will share their experience and introduce Jesus to others.
Have you had a personal experience of Jesus? Do you share your experience with others?
The only way to become a true disciple is to have an experience of Jesus. Jesus' mission is to create others like this man who will share their experience and introduce Jesus to others. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #demon #evangelist #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways