Mark 5:19-20
“Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family 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 (ten cities) how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”
The disciples were on the way to the land inhabited by the Gerasenes. Andrew, Peter, James and John were seasoned fishermen. I am sure they had encountered many storms on the Sea of Galilee. But suddenly they were in a storm that was worse than anything they had ever seen. They were certain their boat was about to be swamped and all of them would be drowned.
In Mark, chapter four, we read about how Jesus calmed the storm (another one of His many miracles). When the disciples’ boat finally arrived on the shore, they were greeted by a man with super-human strength because he was possessed by demons. Knowing who Jesus was and recognizing His authority, the demons begged to go into a herd of swine. Jesus granted their request, which demonstrates to us the power He has over demonic forces.
The former demon-possessed man was so grateful that he begged Jesus to allow him to follow Him. Jesus declined, but told him to go home and tell his family. In today’s Scripture we read that the man went far beyond. He began to preach to the ten cities of the region.
We have no idea who this man was, but I eagerly look forward to seeing him in heaven to hear how it felt to be the Unknown Evangelist to the Gerasenes.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil