“They went to the other side of the sea to the region of the Gadarenes. When He had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him. He lived among the tombs. And no one could constrain him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. But he had pulled the chains apart and broken the shackles to pieces. And no one could subdue him. Always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran up and kneeled before Him, and cried out with a loud voice, ‘What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me.’ For Jesus said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ Then He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He answered, ‘My name is Legion. For we are many.’ And he begged Him repeatedly not to send them away out of the country. Now there was a great herd of swine feeding near the mountains. All the demons pleaded with Him, asking, ‘Send us to the swine, so that we may enter them.’ At once, Jesus gave them leave. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. And the herd, numbering about two thousand, ran wildly down a steep hill into the sea and were drowned in the sea. Those who fed the swine fled and reported it in the city and in the country. And people went out to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw him who had been possessed with the legion of demons sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who saw it told them how it befell him who had been possessed with the demons and also concerning the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart out of their region. When He entered the boat, he who had been possessed with the demons prayed Him that he might be with Him. Jesus did not let him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.’ So he departed and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.” Mark 5:1-20
Have you ever wanted to do something crazy? Something that makes your adrenaline rush? Have you ever wanted to just go for a drive or go on an adventure somewhere? Have you ever had a desire to go wild or go where the wild things are? Jesus and his disciples had that very desire and each day they went on a new adventure for God’s Kingdom.
The story of the demoniac of Gadara is one that we, if you were raised in the church, have heard quite often but do we know the context? Jesus and his disciples went out to the region of the Gadarenes. The Gadarenes first of all was a city filled with gentiles. Jews and gentiles did not get along, especially during this time period because of the Roman occupation. So for Jesus and His disciples to go into ‘gentile territory,’ was a crazy thing.
Not only was being in gentile territory dangerous and crazy, but there was pork around the Jews and that wasn’t kosher. Oh, not to mention that they were among tombs which was something that made the Jews unclean as well if they touched a dead body. The disciples must have been freaking out. They went on a quest. They went on a journey. They were with Jesus and they were “where the wild things are.”
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells us to, ‘Go make disciples of all nations…’ This means that we will not just go to the areas around us but we will have to go where the wild things are. Jesus even sent the twelve out in Luke 9:2-6, “And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey: no staff, no bag, no bread, no money. And do not take two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. Whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” Jesus didn’t only send them out to wild places but with little to no provision for themselves. This is because God wants us to fully trust in Him for everything we need.
God wants us to go to the wild places, to see the wild man, to set the captive free, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, to show the love of God and be the Bible that some have not seen or read before.
This is my desire. I desire to go out with little to nothing, trusting in God with my life, living for Him and living to show others His love. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets,” Matthew 22:37-40. If we loved our neighbors like ourselves then we would show them the way to heaven through Jesus. If we loved God then we would help his lost children to be found.
God wants us to go to the wild places and trust Him knowing that He is there and He cares about not just you but the world. What are you going to do for Him? Will you just stay in your comfy little house with a picket fence? Or will you go with the Comforter to bring love and comfort in the wild? I desire to risk my life at any cost. I desire to go make disciples. I desire to go where the wild things are. What about you? God is calling but are you listening?
Thank you so much for my supporters and those who read my blog. I really appreciate it. I need $7,000 more to complete what I need for my mission trip. If 10 people could give me $700, 70 people or churches $100, or if you just want to donate what the Lord lays on your heart I would greatly appreciate it! This money goes directly into my account for the ministry of the Gospel. You are sewing into the Kingdom, not giving me a paycheck or money to spend in vain. This money goes straight to ministry. Please work alongside me, trust God with me, heal the sick with me, raise the dead with me, take care of the orphan and widow with me, and bring the Gospel to many nations with me. Let’s see miracles together. Let’s see change together. Let’s go to where the wild things are together and make a difference. Thanks once again. I love each and every one of you and can’t wait to share with you all of what God is doing, has done, and is going to do. Many blessings to you.
