Left Behind

<sup>Mark 5:1-20

1</sup> They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ² When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!" ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

⁹ Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." ¹³ He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

The formula of faith for Christians is simple to explain; but, often difficult to put into practice: Pick up the cross, and follow Him. The "cross," the instrument of Christ's suffering and death that Christ had to carry to His own execution, is a powerful reminder of the burden of Christian mission. To take up the cross and follow Christ is to plunge, headfirst, into the mission and march towards Golgotha.

Some of the Twelve lept at this opportunity (the sons of Zebedee), some were reluctant (Peter); but, all eventually followed the model of faith: they picked up the cross and followed Him.

But, what about those who were left behind? What about those who wanted to abandon their lives and follow Jesus and were told to "stay home?" What about the people whose model of faith sounds a lot more like "don't call us, we'll call you?"

The story of the Gerasene Demoniac is a famous demonstration of Christ's power over both the physical and spiritual world. While humans have trouble accepting who Christ is, the demon inhabiting this man had no trouble recognizing Him at all. He sees Jesus and runs to Him on bended knee, begging Christ for mercy. Christ grants the demon's wish and casts him into a herd of pigs instead of destroying him. The grateful man, a witness of Christ's power in a very personal way, responds the way many would respond...blind obedience and thankfulness. The newly-healed man begs Christ to allow him to go with Him and be His follower. Christ, however, tells him to go home and tell people in the village about what has happened to him by God's mercy.

Did this man lack faith? Was this man inept? Why was the correct answer for this healed man (who would, undoubtedly, have had a powerful personal witness) so different from that of the Twelve? Why was it more important to go home and try and share the good news with friends than share the awesome sacrifice that being with Jesus until the end would command?

In Midian, there are a lot of Christians who feel guilty that their lives are not more focused and missional. While heroes of the faith are rescuing heathens around the world, they are having lattes at Starbucks. Many of them read about the exploits of great men and start to despise their Lazy Boy recliners.
"What am I doing?" they ask themselves, " why don't I have enough faith to be a real disciple?"

Ananias (from Acts 9, not Acts 5) was a Christian, respected by Jews, who lived in Damascus. Given his respected status, we may assume Ananias was not a rabble rouser...Ananias was a devout follower of God; but, he wasn't standing in the square preaching redemption of the Jews. Ananias had picked up the cross; but, he was keeping it in his home...he wasn't taking it on the road.

Strangely, even though Ananias was no "hero of the faith," he was called to perform one of the most important acts in the New Testament: the healing and commissioning of Saul/Paul. Paul, the missionary to the Gentiles, and the architect of much of the Christian faith, was a tormentor of Christians (he was either a participant or a sympathizer in the death of Stephen); but, Ananias was called to seek him out and heal him in Christ's name. Ananias, as it happens, was in the right place at the right time.

There is plenty to be said about the brave men and women who pick up the cross of Christ and follow Him to foreign lands or to struggles in this country. They are following the call, and should be admired for doing so. There is plenty to say about clergy, who give up a life of material comfort in order to follow Christ; they also should be admired. That said, we should never forget the healed disciple from the Gerasenes, or Ananias, waiting in his house in Damascus. There is a great work to be done in Midian; and it may be accomplished through a latte drinker at Starbucks just as much as a missionary.

Keep the faith......