This morning I was reading from Mark chapter 5, and something Jesus said really stuck out to me. In verses 1-20 of that chapter, we read of an encounter Jesus had with a man possessed by evil spirits. After Jesus frees the man from his affliction, the man asks Jesus if he can come with him.

I’ve read this story before, and every time I have read it I’ve always thought that it seems like a very valid ask from the man. Putting myself in his shoes, if Jesus had just rescued me from something that had been afflicting me for many years, I’d want to tag along with him as well.

However Jesus tells him no. Which, if I’m being honest, is the part of the story that I previously didn’t fully understand or grasp. I would always wonder why not, what harm could there be in allowing him to tag along? But today as I was reading, I feel like the Spirit gave me some fresh eyes to see this passage, and Jesus’ answer, in a new way.

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. – Mark 5:18-20

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…and everyone marveled”.

Earlier in the passage it talks about how people had tried to contain and subdue this man previously, but they had been unable to. And then, when the people from town had come out to see him after Jesus had freed him, and he was sitting there clothed and in his right mind, it scared them…it shocked them! His friends, the people in his town, who knew this man and what he had been through. So the power of his story from then to now, from before Jesus to after Jesus, pre transformation to post transformation, would have had a lot of power to those who knew him best.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying his story doesn’t have power to those who didn’t know him previously. Any story that shares what God has done in our life can be powerful to those hearing it. But to those who also witness the before and after, it’s definitely adds an element to the power of the story.

This man’s story showcased Jesus’ power, Jesus’ authority, Jesus’ mercy, Jesus’ salvation. Even without words being spoken, this man’s story had power. Just by seeing how different he was after his encounter with Jesus, those who knew him would be able to see the change and know, without any doubt, that he had experienced a life transformation!

Who needs to hear your story?

I feel like we can often get it in our mind that we need to go somewhere else to share our story. Or, we need a big platform or a stage of some kind for our story to be a big deal and have an impact. And while going and sharing is also good (God did tell us to go to the ends of the earth), and there’s nothing wrong with a stage should God choose to grant that to you, that’s not what makes our story powerful. Our encounter with Jesus is what makes it powerful. And honestly, those who have known us the longest, knew us before and after our encounter with Jesus, can see the transformation the most.

I remember a recent conversation I was having with an old friend recently. We were reminiscing about the past, and they were sharing with me how much they can see that God has changed me. They were a witness to me at my lowest, and they saw the transformation that Jesus had done in my life. My story has power when heard, but it has an added element when you have also seen it.

There are people right around us, who God has placed in our lives, that need to see the power of an encounter with Jesus. And our story is a way that happens. Whether it’s a salvation story of how God rescued you from a life of sin, or how you were in a dark place and God brought you through it, or even how he has continued to help you learn to love others the way he does. Your story, your encounter with Jesus in your life, has power.

Because Jesus is powerful, Jesus has authority, Jesus is merciful, and Jesus saves us! And those you interact with the most need to know and see and hear that.

How can you share your story, with your actions and your words, to those around you? Who around you needs to see and hear of your encounter with Jesus?

As Followers of Christ, may we NEVER stop being in awe of what God has done for us. May we never lose the wonder of our own encounter with Jesus. And may we seek ways to share it proudly with those around us.

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! – Psalm 105:1-2