JESUS SPEAKING
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gaderenes. 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 had 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 […] 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. (Mark 5: 1 – 20)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
In this passage we read about a demonically possessed man living an isolated life in a graveyard. No one could subdue him; thus enabling him to abandon his family and friends. The naked man cried out day and night, uttering strange and frightening things. He had also begun cutting his own flesh with sharp stones (a form of self-injury indicative of demonic possession.) Without warning, the suffering man stumbled out of the tombs and met Jesus, who cast out the evil spirits living within him. The man’s sanity was immediately restored. Those who came out from the city to investigate what had occurred saw him “sitting and clothed and in his right mind.” This simple observation was so powerful that they became frightened and begged Jesus to leave their area. Although the restored man yearned to follow the Lord, Jesus commanded him to return home and share his miraculous transformation with his family and friends. A transformed life is the most powerful testimony anyone can offer as evidence for God’s divine presence.
We read in John 12 that Jesus went to Bethany six days before the Passover to dine with Lazarus in his home. Lazarus was the man Jesus had previously raised from the dead; calling him out of the tomb where his body had been lying for many days. We read in verse 9 – 11, “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” A man who had been dead and brought back to life was a walking testament of God’s power and authority. His mere existence was drawing many to the Lord.
Like Lazarus and the demon possessed man, those who have been healed and reborn are living examples of God’s transformational power. He can heal the sick, raise the dead to life, and turn sinners into saints. For those of us who have been healed, the sanity, the purity, and the goodness of our new lives is the most powerful message we have to pass along to others. If we share about the miracle that God has performed in our lives, others will be drawn to Jesus Christ. Our testimony is beautiful, it is powerful, and it is productive.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we praise you for healing our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. You have taken what was dead and brought it back to life again. May we continue to live as committed Christians; reborn and transformed by the power of Your Holy Spirit. May we continue to share our testimony with others; that they might see a miracle in us and be drawn to You. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 