Jesus Wants You to Tell Others About Him
“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you,
and how he has had mercy on you.” ~Jesus
See Mark 5:19
“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’” (Mark 5:18-19).
The man Jesus was speaking to had one foot in the boat with Jesus, and he was ready to go! But Jesus stops him and looks up with a smile, “Ah, ah, ah, stay here. Tell people about me.” And why did this man want to go with Jesus? Because Jesus had just changed his entire life!
After suffering a lifetime of personal torment and public ridicule, this man had all but given up on living an abundant, happy, or even normal life. But then, he had an encounter with Christ! Jesus freed him!
The Bible doesn’t say his name, but this person went from being a madman “cutter,” with a Tourette’s-like Syndrome, to someone at complete peace.
Mark recorded the local people’s reaction after Jesus had His way with the man’s severe problems, “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid” (Mark 5:15).
The townspeople were bamboozled! “Isn’t this Crazy Joe from up in the hills?! What happened to him?! Why’s he so relaxed?!” They had never seen him in such a state! Before, they couldn’t even chain him up because he was too strong and whacked-out! (See Mark 5:4).
And now, look at him…cool as a cucumber.
OH THE THINGS JESUS DOES IN PEOPLE!
This is the exact reason why he was trying to get into the boat with Jesus—HE WANTED TO GO WHEREVER CHRIST WAS GOING! He was so thankful to Jesus for finally setting him free! So much so, that he didn’t want to leave His side. But Jesus said, “No. Stay here and tell everyone what I’ve done for you.”
I’m sure he was heartbroken at the time, but I bet this man never shut up about how awesome and amazing Jesus really is. I want to do the same, don’t you?
A prayer for you: Heavenly Father I want to thank you for sending Jesus here. Thank you for showing me what you are really like. Right now, I lift up all who are reading this directly to you. Help them to know the truth, that Christ has the ability to change everything about us as long as we are willing to let Him come and live in our hearts. Once we finally do this, His unconditional love and never-ending grace changes us from the inside out. Thank you Jesus! Amen.
This devotional is from 60 Days for Jesus, Volume 1. Get your copy here!