One Person

 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19And 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.” 20And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:18-20

The verses above come at the end of one of the most beautiful acts of Jesus. He had led His disciples across a lake going to the land of the Gerasenes. In the course of the trip, He encountered a life threatening storm, as well as the cries of fear and panic from the disciples. When they arrived on the other side, the first person they encountered was a demon possessed man who was living among the tombs of the dead, a graveyard. He was a danger not only to himself, but to those living around him. Countless times the residents of the area had tried to chain him, but each time he broke his shackles and ran amok once more. When the man saw Jesus, he ran to Him, fell at His feet, and begged Jesus for mercy. Jesus immediately ordered the demon to leave the man, as well as asking for its name. He replied, "Legion, because there are many of us inside this man." Immediately, the man was delivered, and Jesus provided him with clothing. When the local residents arrived, they found the man they'd all feared "in his right mind, and sitting at the feet of Jesus."

What happens next, I have read countless times, and have never noticed the depth of meaning before John Bevere gave insight. Insight that he had himself had not seen until the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. As Scripture says, after delivering the man and directing him to tell all about what God had done for him, Jesus and the disciples got back into the boat and went back across the lake. Jesus had undertaken a troubled journey and endured what went with it, all for the purpose of ministering to just one man. One man who was seen as being totally worthless to his surrounding community. One man who was a danger to all as well as himself. One man who all around him would have welcomed his demise, who they'd gladly be rid of. One man that Jesus came to save and deliver. One man.

Dwell on that for a moment. One man, seen as having no worth, no life, and no hope. Trapped in deep demonic activity. One man who no one saw except as a huge problem. For him, Jesus came. Such is the grace of God. It will always seek us out, one by one. It will find us, wherever we are, even if that place is among the tombs of this world. His grace and His love will seek us out in our hidden, unseen, and hopeless places, and bring deliverance. Salvation. Life. He did it for one man that nobody wanted. Friend, what would He do for you?

One man, living among the tombs. Forgotten, despised, alone. Maybe you know something of that kind of life. Maybe you're living it right now. While no one else took notice of the demon possessed man among the tombs, Jesus knew exactly where he was. He knew exactly what he needed. He crossed a lake to reach him. Just as He crossed an eternity to reach us. To reach you. You, me, us. We are all one person, and for each of us, He comes. What do we do when He does? Do we run away, and try to continue to hide among the world's tombs, or do we come out? To freedom. To life. To Him.

There is no tomb so desolate, so removed, so dark and hopeless, that He cannot bring deliverance from. Whatever brought you to that place, be it the workings of the enemy or your own actions, none of it can hold you when He comes....if you'll but come to Him. You, one person, coming to Him....just as He has come to you. Come out from the tombs.

Blessings,

Pastor O