Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39)

Giving Honor To God

The healing of the man from Gadarene was a powerful testimony to the human tragedy of sin, the compassion of Jesus, and the power of the word of God. Jesus arrived in the country of the Gadarenes opposite Galilee and immediately was met by a man from the city who had demons for a long time. The possession of the man was intense as the unclean spirit had often seized the man and, driven by the demons, forced the man to dwell among the rocks in the wilderness. Nothing could bind the man as he tore off chains and shackles with ease. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. His life was total misery and heartache.

When Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, the possessed man met Jesus and fell down before Him worshipping Him. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. He asked the demon his name, and the unclean spirit replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Begging the Lord not to cast him into the abyss, the demon begged Jesus to cast him into a herd of swine feeding on the mountain. Jesus permitted the evil spirit to leave the man and enter the swine, who ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When the people of the city came to see what had happened, they found the demon-possessed man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. This frightened the people, and they begged Jesus to leave their shores. As Jesus was leaving, the formerly demon-possessed man begged the Lord to allow him to accompany the group, but Jesus had other plans for the man. He told him to go home and tell everyone what great things the Father had done for him. With great joy, the man went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole region what great things Jesus had done for him.

Jesus told the man to say to his friends, neighbors, and family what great things God had done for him and how He had compassion on him. Mark records the man began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and Luke says he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. Telling what great things God has done and all things Jesus has done is the same story, identical message, and brings glory to the Divine. Jesus had healed the man through the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of God, the Father. Showing the saving power of Jesus gives glory to the Father and inclusively brings honor to the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, the Son of God gave praise and honor to His Father. Every word came from the Father. The miracles were manifestations of the Father’s power, and every prayer offered by the Son was given to the Father in humble obedience. What a man saw in Jesus was the Father because the Son had become the image of the Father. The Son wanted the world to see the Father. Jesus told the man from Gadarene to preach the Father, and the man obeyed Jesus when he preached the Son. To reject Jesus is to reject God. Obeying the Father is obeying the Son. The two are inseparable. A child of God should reflect the Father’s image in every part of life so the world can see the Divine character of the Father. The imagery of a Christian’s life should be so full of the Father the world can only see the light of truth, righteousness, holiness, godliness, and humility in the picture of Jesus Christ living through the lives of obedient servants. What the world sees in my life should be Jesus Christ so the world can know God. If a man preached the story of my life, who would they preach? Let the light of Christ fill my life so that all men can see God.