When the demon-possessed man saw Jesus preparing to leave, he possibly assumed that if Jesus left, the demons might come back. The only alternative would be to leave this hellish place with Jesus. He had yet to learn that Jesus was omniscient. Not everyone has the privilege of being with Jesus in the flesh. When Jesus returned to heaven after his resurrection from the dead, his followers still had the assurance that he was at hand to answer their heart-felt and earnest prayers.

What could be better than spending time with Jesus, listening to his amazing teachings and watching him as he administered grace to those who came to him for help? According to Jesus there was something better for the man who had been freed from demon possession. That man knew, by personal experience, the mercy of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus commissioned him to share that with the people in his family area. So the man returned home on a mission that was more important than being with Jesus in the flesh.

Christianity lost its way when monks and nuns isolated themselves in monasteries, caves and remote areas to focus on growing their relationship with the Lord in fasting, silence and prayer, etc. While it is not wrong to seek the Lord in fasting and prayer, etc., this is not the mission Jesus has given his people. He says,

Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone. (Mark16:15).

That is the glorious task he gave to the man who had been demon possessed. Just as he was to go into his world, so you and I must go into ours. And our mission is not complex. We are not to spend time teaching the people about Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Soteriology,  Ecclesiology, Missiology, Eschatology, or any other “ology.” We are to share with them what Jesus has done for us, and how he has had mercy on us. Each of us has a unique story to tell. But all our stories have this in common: since being saved by Jesus we have the abiding assurance that we have been accepted as permanent members of God’s household. And this experience is available to all who invite Jesus into their lives.

– Ritchie Way