More About Mark 5:19
Click link to read Mark 5:19 NKJV
This scripture, written by the disciple, Mark, records one
of many events that occurred when Jesus was preaching and teaching in the area of the Sea of Galilee. The specific area is the country of the Gadarenes.
What was happening in this account?
Jesus met a man who lived and roamed throughout the mountains and tombs of the area and was known as a wild and uncontrollable creature. Attempts had been made to subdue the man, all to no avail. He exhibited exceeding strength when bound and would break the shackles and chains. The man was possessed and tormented by an evil spirit and acted out by crying out and cutting himself with stone.
Jesus recognized the man's great need and cast out the evil spirit.The man was freed from the demon as Jesus simply spoke a command. Others observed the incident as the evil spirit was cast into the bodies of nearby swine! There was an immediate physical change in this man as he sat near Jesus in peace and calmness!
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When Jesus prepared to leave the area, the now free man, in his enthusiasm and gratitude, begged to go with Jesus as he set out to continue His ministry. The man wanted to follow the great teacher who had authority to cast out demons and who had saved him from his life of torment! But Jesus told the man instead to, "Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had compassion on you."
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Why would Jesus not allow the man to follow Him?
As I study this passage, I am convinced that Jesus knew what was best in this situation. In His supernatural wisdom and power, Jesus knew the needs of the community from where the demon-possessed man came. Jesus wasn't as much limiting or restricting the mission of the newly freed man (by not allowing him to follow), but more so, was directing the man in his own personal plan and purpose to serve God. I believe that we all are called to serve God and to share the Gospel. I also know that we each have different fields of ministry. Some of us are called to minister far away from our homes, others are called to speak out and minister to our family or neighbors. Some of us have a passion to talk to and teach total strangers we meet in our daily journey as we work and live. ALL followers of Christ have a mission and are instructed to speak the name of Jesus, share our story of salvation and make God's plan for saving mankind made known to anyone and everyone! It is up to each of us to be prepared to share God's love and His plan; God will lead and do the rest!
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What does this all mean?
Beside the lesson on spiritual bondage, I want to focus on the answer that Jesus gave to this now healed man! This is the portion of the text that the Holy Spirit pointed me to. (He has a way of doing that, when we are seeking and searching!) Months after this scripture spoke to my heart, I marvel at how Jesus, in this story, was so very specific for this man. Others in the life and ministry of Jesus were invited to travel along with Jesus. Why not this man? This story reaffirms to me that God, indeed, has a plan and purpose for even the lowest of low of us on earth. I had been asking God HOW and WHERE I could share the Gospel. I was sincere, even enthusiastic, and was truly seeking how I could best follow this instruction of Jesus.
God, in His infinite wisdom and will, has given each believer the Holy Spirit to live within us and teach and impart God's wisdom to us. The Holy Spirit did that for me with this scripture. When the Holy Spirit teaches us something, it's akin to a 'light switch' being turned on! You get a strong sense of understanding and conviction! Where we were once clouded and confused, we have clarity. The Light shines in darkness! And it is only God who orchestrates and teaches us His Truth!
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Why did the Holy Spirit direct ME to this verse of scripture?
I was genuine in my questioning. I truly had realized the importance of the great command that Jesus gave to His disciples and future followers. My real question was WHERE, HOW and TO WHOM do I serve and speak the Gospel message? I have learned through this study that the focus should not be as much about WHERE we minister, but simply that we are prepared and making a conscious effort to share the Gospel and tell our own story of redemption! After I studied this passage, it was clear to me that the current mission field for me is right in my own backyard! This realization seemed to lift a weight of pressure off me. I began to understand the simplicity and humility of sharing the Gospel. I know that God wants us to love every single person, no matter the circumstance. Thus, He fitted each one of us with a special "MO" (method of operation) to reach the needs (physical, spiritual and emotional) of all people. We are to speak from our heart, using words and ways that simply reflect our own style and personality. No pressure! There is not a"right" way to tell others about Christ. We are called to live life with the conscious goal of staying in right, close relationship to the Father, speaking the name of Jesus when we can and introducing others to Jesus's atoning work on the cross.
Ask God WHERE and TO WHOM you are to share Christ. May God bless YOUR ministry of sharing Jesus!
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Here's the
Story...
As written in
Mark 5:1-20 NKJV
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A Demon-Possessed Man is Healed...
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Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 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.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.