Mark Sorensen Do you ever just read the gospels and think, “It must have been incredible being a disciple, walking where Jesus walked and listening to Him teach?” I do. Seriously! Can you imagine what it must have been like seeing Jesus heal the blind, watching Him walk on water, and feed five thousand with a few loaves of bread and some fish? Incredible. And, in case just witnessing the miracles He performed wasn’t enough, Jesus was, in many places in the gospels, a serious rock star. Crowds by the MASSES would meet Him wherever He went. Take Mark 4, for instance. In the beginning of this chapter, Mark says that a crowd of people gathered in such large numbers that Jesus, literally pushed to the waters edge, found that the best option was to get in a boat and preach from the water. Incredible.
BUT… the popularity wasn’t always the norm. There was, after all, Gerasenes. Look what happens just one chapter later in Mark 5.
“They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.” -Mark 5:1-6
Just on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples and Jesus set foot in Gerasenes and they’re not greeted by a crowd of people. They’re not met by a multitude looking to hear the teachings of a Rabbi. They’re met by a demon possessed man who has been imprisoned among the tombs. Let’s be real for a moment. Who would have been happy with this welcome? Upon first glimpse of the dude from the Walking Dead, had I not walked on water by that point, I feel quite confident that I would have quickly mastered the skill and just ran on foot ACROSS the Sea of Galilee to meet Jesus and crew on the other side when they were finished. Of course, Jesus took a very different approach: He healed the man. The demons (who knew the power of God and Jesus) begged Christ to cast them into pigs (which He did) and they ran down a cliff, threw themselves off of it, and drown. Now. There’s an important part of this story and it was found in those who were there tending the pigs. They were the sole witnesses to this “bacon gone bad” story. When they witnessed the, “man among the tombs”-“demon possessed swine”-“water logged bacon” incident, they became very uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, in fact, that they actually go to Jesus and tell Him to leave. There’s no rock star status with Jesus and the disciples here. Just, “look, that thing that just happened was freaky and you need to leave and go as far away as possible”. Everyone wanted Jesus to leave. That is, except for one person. Read on.
“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 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 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 how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” Mark 5:17-20
I’ve always been intrigued by the ending to the formerly demon possessed man’s story. Who knows how long he had been imprisoned among the tombs? And then, that moment comes where he is healed. He is of right mind. He’s free! And what does he want to do? He wants to follow Jesus. Who wouldn’t? He wants to follow in the footsteps of his Rabbi! And when he asks?
…Jesus says no.
Instead? Jesus says, “Stay and tell your story.” Then, Jesus leaves. So the man does tell his story. And the scripture says that the people were amazed. Now. You may think the story ends here? Nope. Check out what happens next.
“When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.” Mark 5:21
A second time Jesus heads back to Gerasenes and it’s a very different scene. It’s not the demon possessed man walking alone among the tombs. Instead, it’s the healed man among the tombs ALONG WITH a multitude who, because of his story of who Jesus was and what He had done for him in his life, people came to see Jesus and the power of God made available to them for themselves. Beautiful.
I love this story for many reasons. One? It’s just creepy. That’s a given. Two?
It tells the power of S-T-O-R-Y.
In what areas of your life has Jesus healed you? Where have you been met, changed, and transformed by the power of God in your life? Take a lesson from our friend among the tombs and tell your story! People need to hear the ways that God has moved and brought transformation in the midst of our lives and, even greater? That Jesus is there for them, as well.
So, let me ask. How has God moved in your life? Tell your story and watch how God can use it. It makes a difference.
