“The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:38–39, NLT)
The scripture above contains some of the closing words of the story of the Gerasene demoniac. The Gerasene demoniac was a man who was infested with demons, an entire “legion” of them (Luke 8:30)! After Jesus exorcised the demons in this man, the healed man desired greatly to become a disciple of Jesus. According to the scripture above, the healed man even “begged” to go with Jesus (Luke 8:38)! However, Jesus had other plans for the healed man. Jesus wanted him to “go back to his family and tell them everything God has done for him” (Luke 8:39). The man did this, “proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39b).
Some who have read this piece of scripture have shed a negative light on Jesus. They have proposed that Jesus should never have turned down someone who wanted to travel with Him. Others have argued that Jesus did not show much mercy to this man who had been exorcised of demons. Still others have surmised that Jesus didn’t allow the man to become a disciple, because the man had been previously infected by demons and was susceptible to be infected again. I disagree with all these naysayers and critics. I see Jesus teaching a lesson to His followers then and to you now. You see, its not that Jesus was preventing the man from being a disciple. Jesus was sending the man out as a missionary and apostle into the world. Jesus was giving the man marching orders! It was and still is a great honor!
If you read closely the words of the gospels, you will notice that Jesus chose the first twelve followers and taught them. Early on in all the gospels, these twelve are usually called “disciples”. The word disciple means “learner” or “follower”. They are like students but learning the ways of the gospel. At important places in the gospels and throughout the book of Acts, the twelve are called “apostles”. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent”, essentially a missionary. An apostle is not just a learner of the faith. The apostle is one who shares the faith and teaches the gospel. That is why the twelve are called “apostles” when Jesus sent them out two by two to heal the sick and exorcise demons (Mark 6:30).
With the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus didn’t see just a disciple. He saw a disciple and a future apostle. Jesus gave the man his marching orders, urging him to “tell everything God had done for him” (Luke 8:39). What did the man do? He “proclaimed the great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39). In essence, he became one of the first apostles!
There is something very important for you to learn about Jesus from these verses. Jesus will not only heal you, but He will also send you out to share with others what God has done for you. Jesus doesn’t expect faithful people to keep their healings and God-experiences to themselves. Jesus expects the faithful to share these holy stories with others, thus sharing the faith. Jesus knew that just as a wildfire can spread greatly when a wind is whipped up, the gospel can spread greatly when people are moved by the Holy Spirit to share their holy moments. Because different people have different holy moments, many different examples of the gospel can be spread throughout the earth!
So, what kinds of holy moments does God want you to share? Like the Gerasene demoniac, will you share them with your family and hometown? Or will those special holy moments be buried in your past?
Bethany Hamilton was born in Hawaii. She grew up near the ocean and learned from an early age to swim. In her younger years, she also learned to use a surfboard. She fell in love with surfboarding, and at the young age of eight, competed in her first surfing competition. She was a natural winner. She was destined for great things.
On Halloween of 2003, Bethany was surfing with her best friend, Alana. Taking a break, Bethany laid down on her board. Suddenly, she was rocked by a violent motion. A tiger shark some fourteen feet long had attacked her. Before she had a chance to realize what was happening, the shark tore off her arm, leaving her bleeding profusely. Using extraordinary means, Alana’s family helped Bethany get to the shore and her father took her to the hospital. There, she received life-saving surgery to save what was left.
At this point, many people figured Bethany Hamilton’s career was over. It was not. She returned to competing in 2004. She has been an inspirational role model, speaking about how to overcome a shark attack. She has also motivated thousands about her experience, while sharing how that attack has reshaped her faith. You see, Bethany Hamilton believes that God had a hand in everything that happened to her. She believes God saved her for a higher purpose. While sharing her ordeal, she shares the gospel! She is a modern-day surfing missionary apostle!
Like the Gerasene demoniac, Bethany Hamilton has been sent by Jesus back to her home turf to share the gospel. She hasn’t entered seminary. She hasn’t desired to lead a church. She just shares the gospel and what God has done in her life with other surfers and the public along the way! Many, many other faithful people have also followed a similar path. You don’t need a master’s degree to do this. You don’t need to be a great public speaker. You just need to be willing to let God speak through you and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Throughout my years of ministry, I’ve learned of many apostles like Bethany and the Gerasene demoniac. There’s the man who was born without arms and legs who shares not only how to overcome adversity but how God uses him. There’s the man who died and was brought back to life. In doing so, he had a near death experience in which he met Jesus and was given a message to share about eternal life and the need to repent of sins. There’s the man who was shot multiple times by a fellow drug dealer. After recovering from his wounds, he gave up his drug-dealing life to share why the world needs Jesus. I could go on and on, but you get my point. Jesus calls not only disciples but apostles to share the gospel! Some are ordained, some are not. Similarly, all have holy moments to share and people who need to hear those stories.
As for you, look for ways to share your holy moments. Look for times to share the gospel of Jesus. Do you know what part of an apostle you are to play? To whom has Jesus sent you?
Some who have read this piece of scripture have shed a negative light on Jesus. They have proposed that Jesus should never have turned down someone who wanted to travel with Him. Others have argued that Jesus did not show much mercy to this man who had been exorcised of demons. Still others have surmised that Jesus didn’t allow the man to become a disciple, because the man had been previously infected by demons and was susceptible to be infected again. I disagree with all these naysayers and critics. I see Jesus teaching a lesson to His followers then and to you now. You see, its not that Jesus was preventing the man from being a disciple. Jesus was sending the man out as a missionary and apostle into the world. Jesus was giving the man marching orders! It was and still is a great honor!
If you read closely the words of the gospels, you will notice that Jesus chose the first twelve followers and taught them. Early on in all the gospels, these twelve are usually called “disciples”. The word disciple means “learner” or “follower”. They are like students but learning the ways of the gospel. At important places in the gospels and throughout the book of Acts, the twelve are called “apostles”. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent”, essentially a missionary. An apostle is not just a learner of the faith. The apostle is one who shares the faith and teaches the gospel. That is why the twelve are called “apostles” when Jesus sent them out two by two to heal the sick and exorcise demons (Mark 6:30).
With the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus didn’t see just a disciple. He saw a disciple and a future apostle. Jesus gave the man his marching orders, urging him to “tell everything God had done for him” (Luke 8:39). What did the man do? He “proclaimed the great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39). In essence, he became one of the first apostles!
There is something very important for you to learn about Jesus from these verses. Jesus will not only heal you, but He will also send you out to share with others what God has done for you. Jesus doesn’t expect faithful people to keep their healings and God-experiences to themselves. Jesus expects the faithful to share these holy stories with others, thus sharing the faith. Jesus knew that just as a wildfire can spread greatly when a wind is whipped up, the gospel can spread greatly when people are moved by the Holy Spirit to share their holy moments. Because different people have different holy moments, many different examples of the gospel can be spread throughout the earth!
So, what kinds of holy moments does God want you to share? Like the Gerasene demoniac, will you share them with your family and hometown? Or will those special holy moments be buried in your past?
Bethany Hamilton was born in Hawaii. She grew up near the ocean and learned from an early age to swim. In her younger years, she also learned to use a surfboard. She fell in love with surfboarding, and at the young age of eight, competed in her first surfing competition. She was a natural winner. She was destined for great things.
On Halloween of 2003, Bethany was surfing with her best friend, Alana. Taking a break, Bethany laid down on her board. Suddenly, she was rocked by a violent motion. A tiger shark some fourteen feet long had attacked her. Before she had a chance to realize what was happening, the shark tore off her arm, leaving her bleeding profusely. Using extraordinary means, Alana’s family helped Bethany get to the shore and her father took her to the hospital. There, she received life-saving surgery to save what was left.
At this point, many people figured Bethany Hamilton’s career was over. It was not. She returned to competing in 2004. She has been an inspirational role model, speaking about how to overcome a shark attack. She has also motivated thousands about her experience, while sharing how that attack has reshaped her faith. You see, Bethany Hamilton believes that God had a hand in everything that happened to her. She believes God saved her for a higher purpose. While sharing her ordeal, she shares the gospel! She is a modern-day surfing missionary apostle!
Like the Gerasene demoniac, Bethany Hamilton has been sent by Jesus back to her home turf to share the gospel. She hasn’t entered seminary. She hasn’t desired to lead a church. She just shares the gospel and what God has done in her life with other surfers and the public along the way! Many, many other faithful people have also followed a similar path. You don’t need a master’s degree to do this. You don’t need to be a great public speaker. You just need to be willing to let God speak through you and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Throughout my years of ministry, I’ve learned of many apostles like Bethany and the Gerasene demoniac. There’s the man who was born without arms and legs who shares not only how to overcome adversity but how God uses him. There’s the man who died and was brought back to life. In doing so, he had a near death experience in which he met Jesus and was given a message to share about eternal life and the need to repent of sins. There’s the man who was shot multiple times by a fellow drug dealer. After recovering from his wounds, he gave up his drug-dealing life to share why the world needs Jesus. I could go on and on, but you get my point. Jesus calls not only disciples but apostles to share the gospel! Some are ordained, some are not. Similarly, all have holy moments to share and people who need to hear those stories.
As for you, look for ways to share your holy moments. Look for times to share the gospel of Jesus. Do you know what part of an apostle you are to play? To whom has Jesus sent you?