Why did Jesus refuse that man?

[JoeWill]

When I went on a study tour of Israel a few years back, we stopped on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus cast the demons out of the man called Legion. That man begged Jesus to let him become a follower, but Jesus said: "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Interestingly, it is thought that we can pinpoint the exact spot where the event happened. Two of the Gospels refer to there being a hill there, and another Gospel refers to there being a cliff. There is only one place where there is a hilly slope and a bit of a cliff on the east side of Galilee; everywhere else there is only a shallow incline.

The party of Christians I was with, stopped at the place. Sitting on a bank, with the warm waters of Galilee lapping the shore, we discussed why Jesus had not allowed that man to become his follower. We came up with about ten different reasons.

Then our tour guide, who was an expert on Bible history, gave us an explanation that was especially convincing. All of the reasons we came up with were valid as well though.

Why do you think that Jesus wouldn't let that man become his follower?


The story can be read in Mark chapter 5 at:
http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Mark%205&niv=yes


.

 

[Simon_Templar]

Because God had a different plan for that man.

 

[Hentenza]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for posting that story. It is a tremendous reminder to us that, while we know the wonders of what Jesus has done for us, only a few will listen. Jesus did not want Legion to go with Him because He wanted Legion to go and tell everyone what Jesus had done for him. All were amazed but few followed.

A Legion of soldiers is 6000 men, so can you imagine having that many demons in you? I bet you that guy was relieved.

 

[Sketcher]

Jesus must have known that having him teach about what He did for him would have done more good.

 

[Macrina]

Jesus must have known that having him teach about what He did for him would have done more good.

Yes, "following" in this case didn't mean literally traveling the same roads.

 

[JoeWill]

When I went on a study tour of Israel a few years back, we stopped on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus cast the demons out of the man called Legion. That man begged Jesus to let him become a follower, but Jesus said: "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Interestingly, it is thought that we can pinpoint the exact spot where the event happened. Two of the Gospels refer to there being a hill there, and another Gospel refers to there being a cliff. There is only one place where there is a hilly slope and a bit of a cliff on the east side of Galilee; everywhere else there is only a shallow incline.

The party of Christians I was with, stopped at the place. Sitting on a bank, with the warm waters of Galilee lapping the shore, we discussed why Jesus had not allowed that man to become his follower. We came up with about ten different reasons.

Then our tour guide, who was an expert on Bible history, gave us an explanation that was especially convincing. All of the reasons we came up with were valid as well though.

Why do you think that Jesus wouldn't let that man become his follower?


The story can be read in Mark chapter 5 at:
http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Mark%205&niv=yes


.

Just a few replies to this one. Well it's definitely true that Jesus had another plan for that man's life, and that is probably the most important point.

But according to our expert there was another probable factor. Legion was from the Gentile's side of the Sea of Galilee. Given the separatist Jewish culture of the day, it is likely that Jesus' other disciples were nowhere near ready to have a non-Jew travelling with them.

 

[tapero]

When I went on a study tour of Israel a few years back, we stopped on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus cast the demons out of the man called Legion. That man begged Jesus to let him become a follower, but Jesus said: "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Interestingly, it is thought that we can pinpoint the exact spot where the event happened. Two of the Gospels refer to there being a hill there, and another Gospel refers to there being a cliff. There is only one place where there is a hilly slope and a bit of a cliff on the east side of Galilee; everywhere else there is only a shallow incline.

The party of Christians I was with, stopped at the place. Sitting on a bank, with the warm waters of Galilee lapping the shore, we discussed why Jesus had not allowed that man to become his follower. We came up with about ten different reasons.

Then our tour guide, who was an expert on Bible history, gave us an explanation that was especially convincing. All of the reasons we came up with were valid as well though.

Why do you think that Jesus wouldn't let that man become his follower?


The story can be read in Mark chapter 5 at:
http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Mark%205&niv=yes


.

you wrote:

we discussed why Jesus had not allowed that man to become his follower.

You might not have meant to write it that way, but Jesus never disallowed him to follow him. The man of course; one would hope followed him the rest of his life.

To Glorify God!

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[c]how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

.

 

[MrJim]

I think it has more to do with the fact that his family knew what had happened to him more so than strangers would, so the effect of his being freed of the demons would have a more powerful witness, since they'd have seen firsthand how he was.

And who knows what happened later, bet he eventually caught up with the disciples somewhere.

 

[Tangeloper]

When I went on a study tour of Israel a few years back, we stopped on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus cast the demons out of the man called Legion. That man begged Jesus to let him become a follower, but Jesus said: "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Interestingly, it is thought that we can pinpoint the exact spot where the event happened. Two of the Gospels refer to there being a hill there, and another Gospel refers to there being a cliff. There is only one place where there is a hilly slope and a bit of a cliff on the east side of Galilee; everywhere else there is only a shallow incline.

The party of Christians I was with, stopped at the place. Sitting on a bank, with the warm waters of Galilee lapping the shore, we discussed why Jesus had not allowed that man to become his follower. We came up with about ten different reasons.

Then our tour guide, who was an expert on Bible history, gave us an explanation that was especially convincing. All of the reasons we came up with were valid as well though.

Why do you think that Jesus wouldn't let that man become his follower?


The story can be read in Mark chapter 5 at:
http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Mark%205&niv=yes


.

I personally think that Jesus telling him to return to his FAMILY had a lot to do with the purpose of this man's interaction with Jesus, and the reason Jesus didn't have him "join the group" at that point.

Perhaps the man's wife, or children, or neighbors were some of the hundreds that shared the story with others, and hence saved many more people than had the man forsaken his home and family to follow Jesus at that point.

There may have been a point about him being a non-Jew, but I can't see that as being the main reason Jesus wouldn't allow him to continue with them. I honestly can't think of why Jesus wouldn't have taken the opportunity to address the prejudice that thinking would have brought about if it truly were the sole reason the man was "refused".

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Just a few replies to this one. Well it's definitely true that Jesus had another plan for that man's life, and that is probably the most important point.

But according to our expert there was another probable factor. Legion was from the Gentile's side of the Sea of Galilee. Given the separatist Jewish culture of the day, it is likely that Jesus' other disciples were nowhere near ready to have a non-Jew travelling with them.

I agree. The ingrafting of Gentiles into the church leadership would not come to pass for another decade.

 

[zoziw]

Just a few replies to this one. Well it's definitely true that Jesus had another plan for that man's life, and that is probably the most important point.

But according to our expert there was another probable factor. Legion was from the Gentile's side of the Sea of Galilee. Given the separatist Jewish culture of the day, it is likely that Jesus' other disciples were nowhere near ready to have a non-Jew travelling with them.

That is a very good answer and certainly possible. My initial thoughts are along the lines that Jesus didn't tell the man not to be a follower, only not to be present with him at that time.

Sending him back to his family helped Jesus teachings to spread in the Decapolis.

Again, what the expert told you is a very likely reason as well. It reminds me of how reading the parable of the Good Samaritan really doesn't hit home until you understand the negative relationship between Samaritans and Jews at the time.