Going home

Mark 5:14-20 (ESV) 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 man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, 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 they began to beg Jesus 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 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 the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. I don’t get the villagers. One might think they would be happy their compatriot was relieved of his suffering. It was too much to take in I suppose. They fear Jesus. I notice this happens often. The people seemed to be more comfortable with the presence of demons, than with the presence of God. I suppose that in and of itself isn’t so peculiar. Birds of a feather flock together. We are comfortable with what we know. We know and understand evil. We are perplexed by forgiveness. Jesus forgives, and because with him there is forgiveness, he is feared. Forgiveness undoes what we are. I am convinced people are more comfortable and hold to their sins like 2 year olds hold teddy bears rather than have someone forgive them. The thought of heaven actually horrifies many, “what will I do if I’m not sinning? I’ll be bored for all eternity!” The man wants to stay with Jesus. This too is natural. He is thankful for what has happened. This is true of Christians too. Thankfully, jesus is with us always where tow or three are gathered. We can find time to be with him in word and prayer. But there is a tendency for Christians to want to separate from the world. Some do it by joining a monastery. Others do it by consuming themselves in church work. There comes a time though, when the Christian must go out into the world, so that Jesus can work through them to heal others, cast out their demons, forgive them their sins. Jesus sends us out, just as he sent this man. To tell others.