“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.” (Mark 5:9)
The Lord Jesus Christ made a special trip that day, the crowds did not follow Him, there were not throngs of people waiting on the shore, just one man held in bondage. The Lord always knew the time and place, He always knew exactly what He was going to do, what He was going to say, how He was going to react to every person and their immediate need.
This man was healed, saved from certain death, saved from his sins, we will meet this man someday in the Kingdom of our Lord.
“But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.” (Mark 7:27)
But this man received, even though, as far as we know, was not of the seed of Abraham.
It is not so much this individual that I would like to present to you in this short letter today, nor the fact that the Lord made a special journey over to him, the reason was His own, what is recorded for us we are to receive in faith, it is the response of those who resided in that region. They saw the miracle, they witnessed the power and mercy of God, and instead of praising His name, they told Him to leave.
Was it because two thousand pigs were more important to them than the freedom of one of their own? Was it for superstitious nonsense, for the majority of the Scriptures make it quite clear, that nearly every nation served some form of god of their own design, those invented to assist them in performing malignantly what all men are to do, give glory to God. Did they ask Him to leave because He had usurped their notion that the god of stone or wood they served would be angry if they allowed the Lord to stay?
The false god of the Roman Catholic cult hangs perpetually on the cross, angry and desirous to destroy mankind, with only his mother appeasing that anger. Were those afraid that their god would be angered, challenged by the Creator and Ruler of all reality?
They did not bring their sick to be healed, they did not ask Him to come and heal the lame, halt and blind.
“My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.” (Luke 7:46)
They did not seek His face, they told Him to leave. And He left them in their sins, with only one witness for His name.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)
Which is greater, to heal a man’s body, or his heart, to help the blind to see, or the blind heart to see truth?
We who have been chosen have been sent, sent to those who do not care for Him whom we serve, whom we love, and if you have been in His service even only for one day, you have realized their response, they do not want anything to do with you, or with Him who has sent you.
“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)
“I know you want to come with me, but I am asking you to go back, back into the world that hates you because of me, and tell them about me.”
Great sorrow was in that man in that moment, and great humility, knowing that the One who saved him thought him worthy to profess His name for Him.
“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
Into the world with you, my brothers and sisters, into the darkness with you, bearing the only light that can never be extinguished, holding forth the truth that can never be denied, knowing with full assurance that He who saved you not only walks with you, but whose face you will see when you reach that gate.
