Mark 5:18-20 - A Witness to the Decapolis

Mark 5:18-20
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.


Message: A Witness to the Decapolis

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark has been rather thorough in his explanations. Mark 4 was thorough about Jesus and the gospel falling on good soil and then the response that takes place from those and/or needs to take place. Chapter 5 has been about the way Jesus has authority over what is inside a person, namely demons and their real place in this world. But, in each chapter Jesus is clearly shown as the one with ultimate authority. And yet there are demonic forces in our world today, wreaking havoc.

The man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him (Jesus) that he might accompany Him. I wonder if Jesus was getting into the boat alone or the disciples were also with him. There may have been others as well and the demon-possessed man wanted to come along and be with Jesus. It makes sense. Without him, he had been demon-possessed and perhaps feared for his past life; but also, he had been impacted by Jesus and the benefactor of his strong work and wanted to simply be with him. Who wouldn't? But perhaps it was more important for this man to return to his life and speak of the impact Jesus had on him, thus evangelizing and then also living his life. He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." There was an aim in Jesus calling disciples, for a purpose, but this man had already been impacted and could be a gift now to his people. This man is similar to us today. Jesus has had an impact on us and now we are to have an impact on those around us.

And Mark shows us in this passage that the man did what Jesus had asked him to do. He was a witness. He did it. And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. See, this works out the way Jesus drew it up. He left and went back to Decapolis and everyone was amazed.

Earlier in this chapter there was a different response to Jesus when they saw what he had done to the swine and the demon possessed man, they began to implore Him to leave their region (v. 17). That was one response: get away. And now Jesus shows us the other response: go and proclaim. The man was effected, while the people nearby were not. The man could now be a witness for Jesus.

Promise: From Tabletalk: One day we will see the Lord face-to-face and enjoy His presence forever. Until then, we have been commissioned to preach the gospel and declare God’s saving grace to the nations. This mission is for us all, though in God’s providence, each of us has a different part to play. In obeying Him and carrying out our role in this mission, we demonstrate our gratitude to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, you remind me here that your ways are the best ways and we are to submit and surrender to You and let you speak to us about the path we should go on in life. I like to think that I know best most of the time. That somehow my way is the better way, but Lord you have authority over all and you know all. Help me to submit to You, follow you and then do what you ask of me.