How Great Things the Lord Hath Done



In Mark 5 and Luke 8 we read about a man possessed by evil spirits and how he was healed by Jesus. In each of these accounts we learn how the man came to Jesus and fell at his feet (Mark5:2, 6; Luke 8:28) and Jesus said for the unclean spirit to come out of him. We then discover that there were many unclean spirits in this man and eventually, these unclean spirits are permitted to enter a herd of swine, and upon doing so, "the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea and were choked in the sea" (Mark 5:13).

This is a wonderful example of Christ's power over Satan and his followers, and we learn much of Christ's ability to heal us, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. "Then they... found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind" (Luke 8:35). 

But I think we often miss an important part of this story, what happens after the healing. 

The man comes to Jesus, desiring to stay with Him, but Jesus sends him away, telling him to go home and tell others the great things He had done for him (Mark 5:19; Luke 8:38-39). Jesus asks this man to be a witness for Him. 

What is interesting about this command from Christ, is that just before this request and after the healing, the people in the man's city, including those who owned the swine that were choked in the sea, requested that Jesus depart from them, to leave their country (Mark 5:16-17; Luke 8:37).

Despite this request for Jesus to leave, "when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him" (Luke 8:40).

This man, as he stood as a witness of Jesus Christ and shared with his family, friends, and others the great things the Lord hath done for him, was able to prepare the way for these people, who at one time rejected the Savior and His message, to now wait in anticipation and receive Him into their lives. 

In 3 Nephi 18, Jesus teaches us that we need to "hold up [our] light that it may shine unto the world" and that the light we hold up is Him. In essence, He is asking each of us to stand as a witness for Him, to share the great things He has done for us in our lives (3 Nephi 18:24). He then tells us, even if others are not ready to accept our witness, that we shall not give up on them, but that we should continue to minister and share the great things with them, to pray for them, and love them, "for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me" (3 Nephi 18:30, 32), reminding us that "ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them," and "I shall heal them" (3 Nephi 18:32).

Our witness of Christ, our sharing of the great things the Lord has done for us, will be the means that will bring others to turn again to Jesus Christ. 

To go from rejecting Him, to receiving Him. 

And not just receive Him, but do so with anticipation.








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