“18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” 20 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 5:18-20
Jesus powerfully healed a man who had been oppressed by demons. The man had become a freak show no one wanted to see. He lived an isolated and tormented life.
Then one day, hope filled his life as He encountered Jesus. Jesus gave this man a restored life. He was suddenly in his right mind, under self-control, seeing with new perspective. He wanted nothing more than to go with the One who had healed him. He wanted to escape the life he had been living entirely. He asks to go travel with Jesus. If I had to guess Jesus’ response before reading it, I would think Jesus would say, “Of course you can!” But instead, Jesus says, “go and tell.” Jesus wants others to know about this man’s transformed life brought about by the Lord.
The man’s story became a testimony when he was willing to share it with others. How many people believed in Jesus and are now spending eternity with Him simply because this former demon-oppressed man allowed his horrible past to become a story of redemption? We all have things in the past that we wish were not so and yet God can redeem even our darkest days when we allow His light to shine through. Go and tell so others can hear about the Lord’s mercy.