Observation: The man from whom the legion of demons was cast off wishes to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him 'no'. Instead, he is to tell others about the Lord, and what was done for him on this day. History shows that his region of Galilee was later a Christian hotspot, with many who believed in Jesus, and that is likely the work of this one man, who had a very powerful and very public testimony.
Over and over, Jesus tells his disciples exactly what to say and how to behave. He teaches them about the 'good news' of salvation through the Messiah, sends them on specific missions to tell others, and gives them words to say. However, on multiple occasions, Jesus sends one person who ... has no education, no knowledge, and little understanding of who or what the Messiah even is ... but they have a testimony. They go away with not much more than that story, and with just vague instructions to tell that story to others, and the results are great. We see that here in this primarily Romanized society, and with the Samarian woman at the well, and perhaps with less clarity we see it in others like the faithful centurion, the rich young ruler, and Zacheus.
There are those who will follow Jesus, learning deeply about the matters believers need to know and understand in order to demonstrate faith in Messiah. These followers will have the authority to heal others, teach about repentance and salvation, witness to the Holy Spirit, and generally communicate in authority about Jesus himself. However, there are those whose mission is not along this path. Rather, they have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and they can bring others into faith and salvation simply by telling their story, without education, training, or any kind of qualifying authority.
Application: I have a testimony, though sometimes I feel like it's pretty pedestrian. It isn't like I had cancer and suddenly didn't, or I was a drug addict in prison and suddenly was a gentle soul without cravings. In my case, I was a young person who had consciously decided that:
a) even if God existed, there was no benefit to caring or believing in him, and
b) old age looked so miserable that I actively decided to just live a life that would produce a younger death.
In the late 80s and early 90s, these two thoughts resulted in heavy drinking, an overall directionless attitude toward all aspects of life, and what I might now call some form of functional depression that made me constantly angry and sad and lonely while still being out and social and able to work.
Then God showed up! I prayed once, and he acted. I still know to this day that what happened in my life was of God, by God, and for me poured out from God's love. I still have the scars of those formative years ... I still drink too much, am not particularly healthy, fight to control my mental anger when in stressful situations, and find myself with what experts now call dysthymia. However, I have an amazing life, blessed far beyond anything I deserve, with a wonderful family.
I am not trained to be one of Jesus' special teachers. Maybe instead I should just be telling others my testimony. Would it resonate with young people today ... those wandering aimlessly, opting into self-destructive activities, all because they don't think there is any relevant God in the universe, let alone one who sees them and loves them? That may relate to many better today than stories of cancer survival.
Prayer: Lord, may I have the simple faith of the possessed man in the tombs, a man who understood very little about Jesus, but knew as fact that Jesus had redeemed him, and he was to tell others that story. Jesus, you redeemed me. I am here to tell others. Amen.