GO, TELL HOW MUCH THE LORD HAS DONE

Passage: Mark 5:14-20

Key verse: 19

NIV

14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion(A) of demons,(B) sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

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(C) 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[a](D) how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 5:20 That is, the Ten Cities
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed[a] man, the one who had had (A)the legion, sitting there, (B)clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And (C)they began to beg Jesus[b] to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and (D)tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in (E)the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 5:15 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); also verses 16, 18; elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons
  2. Mark 5:17 Greek him
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. They heard about the man and the pigs (14-17)

The people of the town heard about the pigs. They came and saw the man who had terrified the neighborhood by his violent behavior sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. What an amazing change! But they didn't care about the man; they heard about the pigs and they were afraid of further material loss. They might have brought the sick and demon-possessed of the town to Jesus, but instead they asked Jesus to leave. Jesus never stays where he is not welcome.

2. Go, tell what the Lord has done for you (18-20)

The man wanted to go with Jesus. Perhaps he was tired of that heartless, materialistic region. But Jesus gave him a mission. He sent him back to tell his family and friends about God's mercy and grace in his life. He obeyed Jesus and went. He had become a servant of Jesus and a free man.

Prayer: Lord, help me to value people more than things; help me to tell the world about your grace and mercy.

One Word: Go and tell God's mercy