Messengers of the GospelSample

The First Missionary

He had no family, no friends, no job or career, no life but to find solace in the isolation of a remote cave. Such was the everyday existence for a man living in the hillside tombs near the Sea of Galilee. This man had been tormented by many demons. No one could stop his ranting, raving, and powerful strength. He roamed the hills screaming and cutting himself. There seemed to be no hope that he could experience any life worth living. By all measures of the world, this man was a lost cause.

This man’s story is found in Mark chapter 5. His real name is not given in the story, only the name chosen by the demons who tormented him, “Legion.” Jesus made a special trip across the Sea of Galilee just to meet Legion. The disciples must have thought Jesus was crazy. What could He possibly want with a deranged outcast like Legion?

Jesus could see the man through the mess, the light in the darkness, the beauty from the ashes. Jesus left the adoring crowds to find and restore this one lost and troubled sheep.

When Legion saw Jesus coming ashore on the boat, he ran to Him and shouted at the top of his lungs, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7 NIV) Jesus was not surprised, and He was not afraid. Jesus commanded the demons to leave. They were no match for Jesus. In what must have been a spectacular sight, the demons entered a herd of pigs and stampeded right off a cliff into the sea below. The man formerly known as Legion was freed from both his physical and spiritual chains that day.

There are so many lessons to be learned in this story. Here are a few key takeaways:

1. The battle between Jesus and any other spiritual power is not equal. Jesus has the power to break every chain and free every captive. Jesus is mighty to save.
2. Jesus will go to any lengths to rescue one lost sheep. In this case, Jesus literally crossed a sea for just one man. Remember this whenever you think someone is too far gone.
3. Jesus has a mission for every disciple. After the man was freed, He wanted to accompany Jesus on the boat ride back; but Jesus had bigger plans. Jesus told the restored man to go and tell all his friends and neighbors how much the Lord had done for him. The man formerly known as Legion was sent out by Jesus to reach the Decapolis with the good news.

Can you imagine the town's surprise when this man strolled back in to town and struck up a conversation with them? What was the conversation like? It probably started with something like, “I met a man named Jesus, and he changed everything.”

Your Jesus story might start in the very same way.

Reflection:

1. Do you ever feel like you are not fit to be a messenger of the gospel?

2. Why do you think this man was Jesus’ first choice to take the gospel message to the towns around him?