MARK 5:14-20 – “The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”

THEME OF THE DAY: HOW CAN WE BE SILENT?  To get the context of today’s nugget, we need to be familiar with the first thirteen verses of Mark 5.  There was this demon-possessed man who was severely tormented. Here is the condition of this poor man in bondage to Satan –

“And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:2-5).

We would rightly describe him with two words – helpless and hopeless – until he met the healing touch of Jesus.

In today’s scripture, the freed man is now clothed, in his right mind, and simply wants to be with Jesus. No doubt this desire generates from a grateful heart and a new-found love for the One who released him from Satan’s grip.  And what does Jesus do?  He wouldn’t let him stay with him.  Instead, He commissions the man, like He commissions us, to go and tell people about the mercy received from the Hand of the merciful Savior.  The man didn’t hesitate to obey Jesus. That is what a grateful person does out of love for Christ. He or she obeys Him.  He went and proclaimed what Jesus did for Him to the people of the city.

The lesson from the man is simple and clear.  How can a person be silent when Jesus touches that life?  The man couldn’t, and we who have experienced the touch of the Lord bringing forgiveness and salvation cannot either.  But that doesn’t mean we should be guilted into sharing Christ. Oh, no. We share Christ out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us, and the desire for others to experience His touch.

Really, if we really think about it, how can we remain silent over such a glorious and loving Jesus?  We can’t.

PRAYER:  Lord, loosen my lips to proclaim Your praises and Your gospel to a world in great need of You.

REFLECTION:  We have many reasons to tell people of Jesus and no excuse to remain silent about Him.