Luke 8:38, commentary and pictures

The man freed from demons begged to remain with Jesus rather than be sent away. He pleaded out of gratitude with a restored mind, feeling safe in Jesus' presence from the torment he had suffered. Jesus sent him away with the commission to return home to his friends and tell what God had done for him. He obeyed by proclaiming Christ's power to save from Satan's bondage throughout Decapolis, and his testimony carried the light of the gospel to that Gentile region and opened it to receive Christ. His longing to stay stands in contrast to the Gadarenes who asked Jesus to leave from fear of loss, and Jesus honored their wish because He never forces His presence where it is unwelcome.

Request and Setting

The man out of whom the devils were departed begged that he might remain with Jesus rather than be sent away. His plea was that of one delivered and healed, asking to stay in the company of his Deliverer. He asked this from gratitude and with a restored mind. He felt safe in Jesus' presence from the demons that had tormented him, and safe beside the One who had freed him, so he clung to remaining near Him.

His plea belongs to the moment when, after the evil spirits released them, the men were restored. Their minds and countenances were changed, their violence ceased, and they praised God.

The healing took place among the Gadarenes at Gadara. It displayed Jesus' power and mercy. It came just before He returned to the place where Jairus came to Him about his daughter.

Sent to Witness

Instead of keeping the delivered man with Him, Jesus sent him away with the commission to go home to his friends and tell what God had done for him, to bear witness among his own people. The restored men had asked to stay because they felt safe near the One who had freed them from torment, but He gave them instead the work of returning home to tell their friends. In this way those once under demonic power were made witnesses to Christ's saving power, and their witness would carry the light of the gospel to a people who had rejected Jesus without understanding what they were rejecting.

His duty was to serve as a messenger of truth by sharing the light he had received, remaining in the region as one who brings his people the light and the message of salvation. That duty meant returning to his heathen home and countrymen, despite the pain of separation from Jesus and the difficulty of renewed social contact after recent torment and isolation. He obeyed by telling his household and his neighbors and by proclaiming throughout Decapolis, carrying the news of Christ's saving power to households and neighbors and to the Gentiles of that Gentile region.

Though Jesus departed from the region, the men He had delivered remained there to declare the mercy of their Benefactor. Their witness to His power and salvation became a powerful influence in the region, carrying the light of the gospel to the people and opening the region to the gospel. It helped bring their neighbors to hear about Jesus. The substance of that witness was Jesus' power to save and deliver from demons and from Satan's bondage.

Warning in Rejection

The delivered man begged to remain with Jesus out of gratitude, but Jesus sent him away, and that clinging desire to stay stands in direct contrast to the people who asked Jesus to leave because they feared financial loss. His healing among the Gadarenes displayed Jesus' power and mercy, yet the people drove Jesus away, rejecting His visit of mercy for worldly interests. Jesus honored their request that He leave, for He never forces His presence where it is unwelcome.

The people of Gergesa rejected Him without understanding what they were rejecting. Though they saw the men restored to reason, they feared financial loss more than they valued His mercy, prizing worldly interests above it and rejecting His visit. In doing so they drove His Spirit from their hearts and refused Christ and His teachings.