Go tell (2)

Go tell (2)

“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” (Mark 5:19).

A few days ago we looked at the personal evangelism of Andrew and Philip. These ordinary men were not brought to Jesus by the evidence of His miraculous power. They met Him, and He transformed their lives.

Legion, the man the Lord spoke to in today’s reading, was so different. There was probably a time when he lived an ordinary life. But when he met Jesus, he was engulfed by evil. Some commentators have suggested that it was Satan who caused the storm which oppressed the boat in which Jesus travelled to the country of the Gadarenes. They base their thinking on Satan’s power described at the beginning of the book of Job. They suggest Satan was trying to protect what belonged to him, the man known as Legion. But Mark does not comment.

Mark tells us that Legion lived amongst the dead. He was uncontrollable and in constant mental and physical pain. When he sees Jesus afar off, he runs to Him in a turmoil of need and struggling under the power of the evil spirits which possessed him. Demonic forces are far more aware of the power of Christ than humans. This story teaches us what James writes, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19). The Lord Jesus has the power to command legions of angels, and He also has the power to defeat the legions of demons. He set Legion free.

Legion’s transformation is one of the most beautiful descriptions of salvation. It illustrates so powerfully what Paul said in Acts 26:18: “to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me”. Legion is described as “sitting and clothed and in his right mind” (Mark 5:15). Where there was death, demons and deep distress, there was a peace which passes all understanding and a heart that desired the constant presence of the Lord.

We must never forget the power and compassion Jesus had to redeem us. It is the same power and compassion He has to keep us day by day. He wants us to know and enjoy His peace (Philippians 4:7); to know we are clothed in His righteousness (Luke 15:22, Romans 3:21-22), and to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

Legion was equipped and sent by the Lord on a mission, “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.”

Whether an Andrew, Philip, Martha, Mary or Legion, we all have our story to tell. May the Lord Jesus empower us to “Go tell.”