Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 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.” 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.
—Mark 5:14-20

~~~~~

All for One
By Jennifer Kane

He left the ninety-nine for one,
His steps echoing on dust-worn paths,
not just a teacher of truth,
but a traveler of mercy,
walking the very roads He preached.

He crossed to the other side—
from sacred soil to unclean ground,
from the holy land to the land of darkness,
from a city of peace
to a shore where chains rattled
and demons howled their defiance.

For one man.
A man who had no name,
only torment, only Legion.
Bound by forces unseen,
shunned by those who feared him,
lost among the tombs,
more dead than alive.

Yet Jesus crossed.
Over storm-tossed waters,
through walls of culture and custom,
past the lines drawn by men,
for the sake of the one.

And when the darkness fled,
when chains lay broken in the dust,
the man long forgotten
became the man sent forth.

He longed to follow,
to walk with the One who had freed him,
but Jesus called him to stay—
to go into the dark cities,
to speak to the same voices that once mocked him,
to tell of the mercy poured out,
the power that shattered his chains.

And so he went,
bearing the story of his Redeemer,
his voice a beacon
in the place where he was once lost.

All from one man—
the One True God.


~~~~~

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Jesus was never bound by the barriers that divided people—whether they were political, cultural, or spiritual. In Mark 5, we see Him crossing the Sea of Galilee into Gentile territory, where He encountered a man tormented by demons. While others had abandoned this man to his suffering, Jesus saw his worth and set him free. Yet, rather than welcoming Jesus’ power, the people of the region responded with fear. And when the healed man longed to follow Jesus, he was given a different mission—to stay and proclaim the great things God had done.

When the herdsmen saw the transformation, they fled to tell others. Soon, the townspeople came and found the man who had once been uncontrollable—now sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. Instead of rejoicing, they were afraid.

Why? Perhaps it was because Jesus’ power shattered their expectations. Their superstitions had taught them that the spiritual realm was unpredictable and dangerous, yet Jesus had authority over demons with just a word. This was unsettling. If Jesus could do this, what else might He do?

Their fear outweighed their desire for transformation, and they pleaded with Jesus to leave. What a tragic moment—choosing to push away the One who had the power to heal and restore!

Are there areas in our lives where we fear Jesus’ work more than the damage of sin? Are we clinging to the familiar, even when it leaves us in bondage?

Unlike the fearful townspeople, the healed man responded with gratitude. He begged to follow Jesus. But Jesus had a different plan:

“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.” (Mark 5:19)

It might have seemed unfair—after all, the people who rejected Jesus got what they wanted, but the man who wanted to follow Him was told to stay. Yet, Jesus knew that this man’s testimony would be a powerful witness in his own land. The Gentiles may not have been ready to receive Jesus, but they could not ignore the testimony of someone they had known as hopelessly lost.

And so, the man obeyed. He went throughout Decapolis—the ten Gentile cities—proclaiming what Jesus had done, and people marveled.

Has Jesus ever led you in a direction different from what you expected? How can you trust that His plan is better?

This encounter reminds us that Jesus is not bound by human divisions. He went where others would not go. He saw the value of one man, even when an entire city rejected Him. He used an unlikely messenger to spread His truth among the Gentiles.

Today, Jesus still seeks the lost, crosses barriers, and transforms lives. When He does, our response matters. Will we push Him away in fear? Or will we embrace His calling, even when it leads us somewhere unexpected?

Think about what “great things the Lord has done for you.” Who in your life needs to hear your testimony? Like the man in Mark 5, you don’t need special training—just a willingness to share how Jesus has had compassion on you. Go and tell!

Father God, thank you for doing all you did for one person. The value you give of a single soul is beyoond compare of anything we could imagine. I am humbled and thankful. Thank you Jesus for coming from light into darkness to just get one of your flock. In your name I pray, Amen.

February 2 2025