...but Jesus sent him away

Reading Luke 8:26 - 40 to the children tonight and this passage really jumped out at me.

Here we have this dear man tormented of devils and in bondage and finally healing and deliverance comes. People are amazed and in fear as he sits with Jesus "clothed and in his right mind". Then all the people beseech Jesus to leave the country because they were "taken with great fear". So as Jesus starts to leave, this beloved man who was now delivered beseeches Jesus that he might go with him, but instead of taking him into the number, Jesus sends him away.

In looking at this from our perspective it seems wrong. Really, who would tell someone that just came to Christ today to go away and stay with family that has just rejected Jesus Christ. This man was the only man in the whole country that got it. Everyone else was afraid of Jesus and they sent Jesus away. You would think that Jesus would have told the man, "Hey, come with me, I will get you established in your faith and teach you all the things you need to know so that you can go back and be an effective minister to those people back there". But no, that is not what He said. Notice that Jesus told him to "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee." Is there any better foundation than that to tell anyone. We are always looking to find something better to tell people intead of just telling them the wonderful things that God has done for us. Sometimes I wonder if this is the case because God really hasn't wrought wonderful things in us. I don't say that to be harsh or critical. God knows. But we should desire reality with Christ and a reality of a changed life, something that people will take note of. This is to me that I ask these things but we should all consider them.

Consider finally, the work that this man does with just a testimony of a changed life. The Bible says that he "published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him". And what was there the next time Jesus came back? "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were ALL WAITING for Him." Amazing!

Jesus knew the pefect plan for this man. He knew that His testimony would change the hearts of those people and He knew that if He removed him from his home, these people would still be afraid of Jesus. There are some many things to consider with this but let us just consider this one for tonight, that we can shine in a place where Jesus is not wanted and by showing forth the true testimony of a changed life we can help people come to the place where they too will be waiting for Jesus when He returns. And, hopefully it will be ALL of them that will be waiting.

David