In Mark 4, Jesus had sailed with his disciples to Gerasenes. As soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat, a demon-possessed man who was well known to the people, approached him. He was a man that could not be restrained, and the people feared him. Jesus delivers that man bringing freedom from oppression. The people who knew his past, that he was previously known as ‘legion’, were astounded in verse 15.

Mark 4:15
And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man  the one who had the legion, sitting there, clothed in his right mind, and they were afraid.

This man wanted to join Jesus and the rest of the disciples in the boat but Jesus forbade him. Instead, Jesus instructs the man, to tell his friends about what God had done in his life and the mercy he was shown.

It made me think of how many people have I testified to about God’s goodness in my day-to-day life. It’s easy to want to go around the world, to preach and teach and evangelize to other people in other countries who don’t know the Gospel.

Some may say it’s what we’re all called to do right? Go into all the world and make disciples…but that also includes our unsaved friends, family, colleagues and strangers that we come across.

Jesus wanted the man to go and testify to the people around him (Mark 5:19-20). That didn’t make the mission any less impactful because it was local. He testified and the people were marveled. The Samaritan woman shared about her encounter with Jesus at the well to the entire town where she lived and they believed (read John 4).

Regardless of where the Lord leads us to. Will we be faithful? Will we be obedient? Whether we fulfill the Great Commission locally or overseas – Jesus Christ will still be glorified. It’s still his name that is being proclaimed. And those who call upon the name of the Lord will still be saved!

Do the people around you know about the goodness of God. They may know that you know Jesus. But do they know what the Lord has done for you and the mercy He has shown you?

Mark 5:19-20
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.

#gointoalltheworld #preachthegospel #makedisciples #yourneighbourstoo