My God and My Country

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Gospel According to Mark 5:19-20

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

19 Howbeit, Jesus would not suffer him, but said unto him, Go thy way home to thy friends, and show them what great things the Lord hath done unto thee, and how he hath had compassion on thee. 20 So he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis, what great things Jesus had done unto him: and all men did marvel.

Brethren:

It is interesting to note that in this translation (The Geneva Bible Translation), that the word “publish” is used. According to Webster’s Dictionary edition 1913, it is defined as:

“To make public; to make known to mankind, or to people in general; to divulge, to promulgate or proclaim”

Yet one senses a deeper meaning, a more personal one of the man of whom we read the other day (Read Mark 5:1-9), that was released from the bondage of demons, and how he announced to not only just his friends, but likewise, in Decapolis, (The Ten Cities). The identity of this man is unknown and will remain as such, however, it matters little, for such is the power of God to inspire the blessings of Providence bestowed upon this man, that he took to the road and preached it to all that would listen. One might even say he was one of the first evangelists in that he proclaimed the Good News of compassion and mercy as to soon be made manifest by the Crucifixion of Christ, the shedding of His blood and the redemption from sin.

An additional translation of the word “publish” is one that states;

“To send forth, as a book, or other printed work, for general distribution”

This tends to make one wonder if this man not only spoke upon his healing, and new found release, but likewise wrote it down in order that many others might read of it. Again we shall never know with any certainty.

Friends, let us therefore make note of this idea. That is to say, in addition to spreading the Gospel of Christ, let us also make it known of the blessings that are bestowed upon us by the hands of the almighty living God. - Dr. RVZ

“He desired that he might go along with Christ (Read Mark 5:18), perhaps for fear lest the evil spirit should again seize him; or, rather, that he might receive instruction from him, being unwilling to stay among those heathenish people that desired him to depart. Those that are freed from the evil spirit, cannot but covet acquaintance and fellowship with Christ.

Christ would not suffer him to go with him, lest it should savour of ostentation, and to let him know that he could both protect and instruct him at a distance. And besides, he had other work for him to do; he must go home to his friends, and tell them what great things the Lord had done for him, the Lord Jesus had done; that Christ might be honoured, and his neighbours and friends might be edified, and invited to believe in Christ. He must take particular notice rather of Christ’s pity than of his power, for that is it which especially he glories in; he must tell them what compassion the Lord had had on him in his misery.

The man, in a transport of joy, proclaimed, all the country over, what great things Jesus had done for him. This is a debt we owe both to Christ and to our brethren, that he may be glorified and they edified. And see what was the effect of it; All men did marvel, but few went any further. Many that cannot but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him.” - Matthew Henry - 17^th Century Theologian