p. 2 | The Wild Man of Gadara by E. Ray Corder

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 7, 1930

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 57, No. 39.

The Wild Man of Gadara

By E. Ray Corder

E. RAY CORDER

Jesus and His disciples stepped out of their storm-tossed boat of the night before upon the land of the Gadarenes. As they did so, their eyes met a sight that would strike terror to the bravest of hearts. Rushing toward them in fiendish madness, his features distorted and his hair disheveled, was the notorious wild man of the Gadarene mountains and wilderness.

When the demon-possessed man came near, Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave their victim and to enter into a herd of swine feeding close at hand. These rushed down the mountain side, and were drowned in the blue waters of the Sea of Galilee.

Soon the entire countryside was aroused, and the inhabitants hurried to the scene of this extraordinary occurrence. There, sitting at the feet of the miracle-working Stranger, they saw the dreaded wild man, now clothed and in his right mind. Trembling with fear, the people begged Jesus to leave their country. This He did, for neither then nor now does the Saviour stay long where He is not wanted.

GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS

The restored demoniac, however, had an entirely different request to make of Jesus. He “besought Him that he might be with Him.” “But Jesus sent him away saying, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Luke 8:38; Mark 5:19, 20.

The healed Gadarene loved Jesus, and he extolled Him as his great benefactor and Saviour. He yearned for His continual companionship. But Jesus had a work for him to do in his own neighborhood. There relatives and friends and all others could see his marvelously transformed life. They feared Jesus, and He could not work among them in person. But the man who had been so blessed by Him could freely represent Him.

And what a touching story the newly made missionary had to tell to his own people! For years his life had been a blank, in bondage to Satan. Now all was changed. Jesus, whom the Gadarene’s own countrymen would not permit to stay in their land, had restored his body and soul. A miracle had been wrought in his devil-controlled life, and he greatly rejoiced in sounding the praises of his wonderful Saviour.

EFFECTS OF A SIMPLE TESTIMONY

One of the first two missionaries sent by Jesus into the region of Decapolis was this Gadarene convert. And although this man had been in the Great Teacher’s presence for only a few moments, and had never heard a sermon from His lips, yet his testimony mightily convinced the Gadarenes of Jesus’ love for them. As this simple witness told them the sweet story of what he had seen and heard and felt of the power of God, a great longing arose in their hearts to see Jesus. So much so “that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him.” Luke 8:40.

What a great change had taken place in the Gadarenes’ attitude toward Jesus! At His first coming they had repulsed Him with a frigid indifference. But at His return they were all waiting for Him with outstretched arms. What the Saviour of the world could not do in person, He had quietly, but effectively, accomplished through His ardent representative,—the untutored, healed demoniac. Had he failed to go home and serve at Jesus’ command, what a blessing the Gadarene and his people would have missed!

BE A MISSIONARY AT HOME

Many of Christ’s people to-day yearn to be with Him in Paradise, and to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” Revelation 14:4. But Jesus says to these, “The first great business of your life is to be a missionary at home.” In other words: There are people living near you who have a wrong conception of Me and of My work. Like the Gadarenes, they misconstrue My loving intentions and saving ministry. They do not know that I care more for sinful man, and am better able to help him, than anyone else in the world. But as you, My followers, go home and tell your neighbors and friends that I have forgiven your sins and saved your souls, many will repent and turn, and live eternally. And then, when I return the second time, with all My holy angels, to claim My precious jewels, many who have been fearful and unbelieving, will look up and say, because of your faithful service, “Lo, this is . . . the Lord: we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.