Jesus: No You Cannot Follow Me

Mark 5:18-20

Isn't this a strange thought, Jesus telling someone to NOT follow Him? Many of us are familiar with the calling of the disciples and Jesus said the opposite, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." If we simply read this verse and allow our minds to make assumption, we can have all kinds of erroneous thoughts. We might assume that the man's demon possession somehow disqualified him from service. We could assume that Jesus simply did not want him. We might even conclude that the man was not saved, but that Jesus had simply cast the demons out of him. I don't believe any of these are true. Let's look at the verses.

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And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:18-20

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There it is, right there! Jesus "suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home..." Doesn't that fly in the face of our theology about discipleship? How could Jesus send this man away and not let the man follow Him? Was he rejected?

I think the answer is actually the opposite of rejection. I believe this man had all the theology he needed to be a follower of Jesus like we modern disciples are. This man had a clear understanding of the doctrine of salvation. He knew that he was lost and now he was found (Luke 15:24). He knew that he was blind but now he could see (John 9:25). He knew what it was to be accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6).

This man also had a clear understanding of demonology. Many of us learn about this from a purely academic perspective. This man had an experiential knowledge that would hardly be paralleled by many others in history. He understood who his enemy was because he had lived with them. Jesus had rescued him being a prisoner to the enemy (Isaiah 61:1).

Jesus did not reject this man, He accepted him and sent him on the mission field. Look at what Jesus said, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." He told this man, Go home and preach your testimony to all your friends. Based on what this man had learned while in sin, and what he had learned in Jesus delivering him, he was prepared to go and proclaim Jesus. Isn't that what we are all called to do?

Sharing your faith is not hard. All we are commanded to do as Christians is to tell what Jesus did for us. That's it! You are not called to give a theological dissertation of the doctrine of soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). You are called to share your testimony of what Jesus did; how he saved you from your sins. That is what he call this man to do and that is what he has called all Christians to do.

Father, help me to be bold in sharing my testimony. By I never be ashamed or afraid to tell of your love, forgiveness, and grace. Please use my testimony for others to be saved as well!