For Just One Man

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.  When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 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.” 

 Mark 5:1-19

When you read this account you see that Jesus got into a boat and went across a lake.  In chapter 4 is when a great storm came up as they were crossing the lake and the disciple woke Jesus up and Jesus calmed the wind and the sea. They get to the other side and Jesus heals a man that was terribly demon possessed. After healing this man Jesus gets back into the boat and goes back to the other side where he had been prior to this boat ride.  Jesus made this trip to heal just one man. He went through a storm  that had his disciples terrified. Jesus spoke and the wind and the waves were calmed and the disciples were amazed that even the wind and the waves obeyed him.  He gets out of the boat and immediately encounters the demon possessed man. Jesus heals the man and the demons ask to enter a herd of pigs. The demons cause the heard of two thousand pigs to run down a slope toward the lake and drown. Healing this man is the only thing Jesus did on this trip. For one man Jesus did this.  Jesus came to me in my dark days and delivered me from my burden of sin. I remember the night of my salvation.  I had not been to church in several years. I had walked away from God thinking all Christians were hypocrites. On this Sunday my first Father-in-law called me on the phone and asked if I would bring his daughter up to Burlington WA for a revival that evening. He wanted his daughter to sing a special song. I liked my Father-in-law and I said sure I can do that. I had not been to church in several years and figured its no big deal, I can do this. I get there and they do all the church stuff, singing and offering and special song etc. It is now time for the evangelist to get up and speak. I am sitting on the very back row, I only came to bring my wife up to sing her song. The evangelist Mike Mathis comes to the pulpit and says to me directly. Leon, some day you will stand before God to give an account of your life on that Judgement Day. God is not going to ask,  Leon, who hurt you? Or who said something mean or what ever happened to keep you out of church. No, God is going to ask one question, what have you done with Jesus? Have you accepted him or rejected him? That was the totality of his sermon that evening. Leon, what have you done with Jesus, have you rejected him or accepted him as Lord and Savior? I was confronted with the gospel message in those few words. It was directed at me. Just one man. I kneeled at that alter that evening and gave my heart to God. That was in 1984. I am not going to tell you that my life was perfect from then on. It wasn't. I went through 4 divorces between the fall of 1993 and the spring of 2004. A little over ten years. I went through difficulties on the job where my employer had to put me on second shift for my own safety. But through it all Jesus stayed with me. My mistakes, he stayed with me. People angry with me and threatened my family, Jesus stayed with me. Jesus tells us he will never leave us nor forsake us. And he didn't. I was the only person that got saved that night at that little church in Burlington, WA.  For just one man Jesus will cross a storm of life to rescue a hurting man to bring healing into a life that has gone astray. For just one man Jesus crossed a lake and faced a storm in Mark 4 and 5 to bring healing into the life of that one man. In  1984 on a Sunday in Burlington WA, Jesus came to a little church for just one man. I made a decision to follow Jesus on that night through trials and tribulations, what ever came my way. I have never regretted that decision. I had been raised in church and had gone most of my life but somewhere in my late twenties, I walked away from God. But Jesus left the ninety and nine to find me. I was as lost as a penny in a wheat field. But Jesus knocked on my hearts door and I answered his knock that evening and let him in. For just one man Jesus came to heal. And he will do the same for you. God bless, LVZ.