Mark 5:18-20
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, ‘Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.’ The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.”
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.’ So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”
This man of tragedy learned many things from Jesus: healing joy, wonder of God’s power, experience of normal emotions and sensations, safety from evil, and hope for a rosy future. What a contrast with his past. Perhaps he assumed he would be allowed to follow Jesus too. But Jesus had other plans. This man was to preach to others of his deliverance and his text would be God’s mercy. No person was beyond the reach of God’s powerful arm of redemption and healing.
Lord, thank you. Neither am I beyond your reach when I wander afar. Your powerful arm ever pulls me home to the warmth of your embrace. Truly, you are all that is beautiful and I the opposite, hopelessly enmeshed in the power of sinful ugliness. Thank you for finding and keeping me safe.