Jesus told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)
As we begin a new year in 2022, we are inundated with urgings from friends, social media, and our workplaces to try something new for the upcoming year. Often times these New Year’s resolutions don’t last past January as we lose motivation to exercise, adopt better work habits, or become better people. Hopefully, after reading Mark 5 today, we all will be able to maintain not only this year’s resolution, but that it would become a part of our DNA for the rest of our lives on earth for years to come.
In today’s reading, we see Jesus healing a demon-possessed man, restoring Jairus’ daughter to life, and healing a woman who had been suffering for 12 years. All three examples in this chapter show Jesus’ compassion, power, and love that He has for people. The man who was demon-possessed begged Jesus to be able to stay with him. What was Jesus’ response to the man’s offer? In verse 19, Jesus told the man to go home and share with the people what Jesus has done and the mercy he had upon him.
What has Jesus done in your life that had transformed you? Have you told those you know, about how good Jesus is? Maybe it’s been years since you first believed in Jesus. Maybe you have come to know Christ and His free gift of salvation during this pandemic. No matter how long or short it has been, Jesus makes it clear what He wants us to do. Jesus wants all of us to share what we know and have experienced in our relationship to Him.
As God continues to work in your life, it is easy to share about God’s goodness and grace with those at church, those in your community group, or people who are Christians. It’s easy because we will receive affirmation and we know that God will receive all the glory. Jesus told the man who was demon-possessed to share about what the Lord has done to go to his hometown and share with the people. So will you take the challenge of 2022 to share about what Jesus is doing in your life with everyone you know, especially those who may be opposed or indifferent to God? We may offend others and may possibly make our friendships awkward by doing this. But if we truly love people and want the best for them, then we know sharing with them about Christ is the best act of love to give someone. We have seen through the past 2 years that people are searching for truth and hope. Let’s help our unbelieving friends and acquaintances to know that what God says in the Bible is truth and that the only hope for eternal life is through trusting and believing in Jesus Christ.