Home Mission

“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  Mark 5:19

I’ve been pondering this verse for a week, and just like the candy that changes flavors the longer it’s in your mouth, this verse keeps bringing different delights the more it’s in my heart.

After Jesus healed the demon-possessed man, the people pleaded with Him to go away, but the one who had been restored begged to go along.  Opposite of what we might have done, Jesus said “yes” to the first request but “no” to the next.  He left as was asked but instead of letting the new guy join the group, Jesus sent him packing—but not because He was mad because He had a special mission for the man that no one else could do better.  Jesus wanted him to head home and start running his mouth. “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”(Mk 5:19).

An amazing miracle had occurred.  The man’s life had been rescued and restored, and others needed to know, so Jesus said, “Go!”  But don’t just go anywhere—Go home. The first take on this command is at its face value—“Let those who are nearest know the most about your awesome God.”  Sharing Christ with family who don’t believe can be awkward, intimidating, and just plain difficult, so take directions from Jesus and make the message personal.  “Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”(Mk 5:19).  Even if they say the story isn’t for them, the difference He’s made in you can’t be denied—especially (and imperatively) if your attitudes and actions verify your narrative.  

The focus of the man’s message was to be mercy, and ours should be the same.  We are all in desperate need, unable to redeem ourselves from a hopeless now and forever, but One came along who can and did and will and wants to.  Instead of vaunting our own goodness, we should gush over God’s greatness with words and lives filled with His grace.

The man did as he was directed.  He “went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.  And all the people were amazed”(Mk 5:20).  Because of one man’s obedience, those at home heard the good news of God’s grace, and when Jesus returned to that same region a few months later, He found hearts ready to believe and receive(Mk 7:31-8:10).

I’d love to stop this reflection right here, but God’s Word always layers truth upon truth, so here’s another tidbit to chomp on. “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”(Mk 5:19).  Some of us live within walls where, but God’s grace, all in the family belong to the Lord.  Does this mean we can ignore this initiative and leap to the next lesson?  Not so fast, my friends, for within His words Jesus did not differentiate between those who know Him and those who don’t.  Even, and especially, if our families are all saved, we should be continually talking about what God has done and what He faithfully does for us every day.  We, of all people, should be making much of His mercy and love, and husbands and wives and sons and daughters should never let a day go by where we don’t share our amazement of our awesome God with each other.

Most conversation at my house revolves around the inputs and outcomes of activities on the weekly schedule, and this verse has rebuked and reminded me that more of what we say should be about our Savior.  It has also convicted me of not just what I don’t say, but of what I do say and how I say it.  Sometimes it’s hardest to be kindest to those who are closest, but a remedy for our snippety tones, impatient demands, and unkind words is to make sure that what comes out of our mouths is in line with the “much that the Lord has done for us, and how he has had mercy on us”(Mk 5:19).

Home should the place where Jesus should be praised the most.

No one is better at sharing Christ with your family than you.