Mensa Otabil - A New Mission (10/24/2025)
Well, this week we’ve been looking at the story of a man who was demon-possessed and had a legion, whom Jesus delivered. It’s been a fascinating story and a study looking at the process of deliverance that God brought to this man’s life. So now we conclude with Mark chapter 5, verses 18 and 19. When he got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged him that he might be with him. However, Jesus did not permit him but said to him, «Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he has had compassion on you.»
Having accomplished his purpose and assignment, Jesus is now heading home. Of course, the people also want him to leave, so he’s departing the community. Jesus steps back into the boat he came in, and the man who had received this transformation and a touch from Heaven wanted to go with Jesus. He wanted to be with Jesus; of course, if Jesus had been such a blessing to you, you would want to be with him. Probably he wanted to be with Jesus because he was afraid that if Jesus left, the demons would come back and harass him. He wanted to be close to Jesus, and Jesus helped the man to understand that the demons were not coming back: «You are free, and God has set you free; there will be no relapse in your situation.»
So, Jesus told him three things. First, Jesus says, «Go home to your friends.» Jesus says, «Go home, go to society, go and be part of society, go and be part of your community, go and be reintegrated, and don’t run away from people. Go out there and be with your friends. You are okay; you can mix with people, you can live among people.» Because, you know, sometimes God delivers a person, and there is a stigma. Jesus didn’t want this man to carry a stigma of some abnormality around him. He says, «Go home, go be with your friends; you are okay, you are okay.»
The second thing Jesus told him was to tell your friends the great things that God has done for you. Jesus saw something unique in this man, in his experience, that although he started from a very wild background, something had happened to him that was transformative. Jesus says, «Go and tell people about this transformation that has taken place in your life. Tell them the mighty work that God has done for you.» Jesus commissioned this man to be a disciple and not only a disciple but also a preacher of the good news of God’s love.
The third thing Jesus told him was to tell them about God’s compassion. Basically, Jesus is saying, «Tell them that what God has done for you, he can do for them. They may not be in the state you are in, but whatever state they are in, the compassion of God is not only limited to you but also to them.» So, this man is to go out to his friends and tell them what has happened to him and what God can do for them as well. In essence, that is what all preaching does: preaching is going to your people, people you know, telling them what God has done for you and what God will do for them as well.
Jesus trusted this man, who had just stepped out of a bad situation, with the preaching of the gospel. The Scripture says later that he went around the ten communities around him preaching the gospel. People were marveled, and later when Jesus came back to the same region, the people were ready for him because they saw the testimony of this man; they heard his words, and they were ready to welcome Jesus. The last time they wanted him out, but later on, they welcomed Jesus back into the community. That is what your story can do to the world. God has done something great for you; go and tell people about it. Share the gospel and share the good news of God’s deliverance.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I give myself to you. Take me and use me for your glory. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» Well, next week we’ll start studying something new. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.