Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Mon, 12 May 2008 06:23:24 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna May 13-BP: Lk. 8:26-40; RBTTY: Jn. 3:19-38; II Kings 17-18
May 13 “Walking Billboards”
“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him; but, Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house and show what great things God has done unto you.’ And he went his way and published throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.”
Luke 8:38-39
As someone once said, “Our actions speak louder than words.”
It’s likely Legion couldn’t believe his eyes and ears that day when Jesus said “No” to his request to go with Him. No doubt he wondered within himself, “What in the world’s with this Guy Whose whole ministry has been a ‘Come, follow Me’ ministry? I mean, look at what I was before and look at what I am now! Surely, I could better serve Him by being with Him instead of going back home to folks who could care less about me!”
But, Jesus knew what He was doing then—and now.
Sure, having Legion with Him would probably have helped Jesus draw some crowds, for it’s very likely that folks all over that region knew about the crazy man who lived in the tombs. . .ran around naked. . .could break his fetters with ease when he was enraged . . .and whose mournful howl could be heard echoing through the hills at night as he cut himself with stones (vv.26-29; Mk. 5:1-5).
But, Jesus wasn’t into spiritual sideshows. He didn’t need Legion to help draw a crowd, for His Gospel was sufficiently able to do that on its own. Instead, Jesus was into transforming lives—and Legion’s transformation had started just a few hours before his request to go with Him in the boat.
He knew the best place for Legion was not walking the Galilean hills with Him; it was “returning to his own house and showing (Grk. ‘diegeomai’—‘to relate fully, declare, tell, give an account of, etc.’) what great things God had done for him.” Our Lord knew the greatest evidence of the Gospel is a changed life. Glory!!
So, back to his home he went.
No doubt Legion’s presence back in town caused quite a stir: Kids running to the safety of their mama’s arms. . .businessmen putting out “Closed” signs on their windows as they hastily shut the door when he approached. . .banks refusing to give him a loan because of his background, etc.
Yes, the most difficult place to be a witness is “back home on the farm”—back to where people know us. . .really, really know us. . .what we used to be. . .and what they suspect (in their “evil imaginations”) us to still be. But, that’s okay: Jesus never said being “a witness unto Him” (Acts 1:8) would be easy; neither is “being crucified with Him” (Gal. 2:20). However, He also knew Legion’s scars would forever be a reminder to him (and others) of what he was BEFORE he met Jesus and his clothes and confession would be a testimony to what happened AFTER he met Him. Hallelujah!! May the Holy Spirit help us today to be faithful witnesses wherever we are so that others can also know firsthand His power to save to the uttermost.
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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