How does Mark 5:1 connect with Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations? The Verse in Focus “On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.” (Mark 5:1) What the Setting Tells Us • Jesus intentionally sails east across the Sea of Galilee into predominantly Gentile territory—the Decapolis. • The phrase “the other side” is more than geography; it signals a deliberate step beyond traditional Jewish boundaries. • By landing in the region of the Gerasenes, Jesus puts His feet on soil that many Israelites would have avoided. Crossing Boundaries—A Preview of Global Mission • Geographic boundary: From Galilee (Jewish heartland) to Decapolis (mixed Gentile population). • Cultural boundary: From kosher villages to towns that raised pigs (Mark 5:11). • Spiritual boundary: From synagogue life to a tomb-dwelling demoniac (Mark 5:2-5). • Each boundary that Jesus crosses in Mark 5:1 foreshadows the worldwide reach He later commands in Matthew 28:19. The Delivered Man Becomes a Missionary Prototype After the demons are driven out, Jesus tells the healed man: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” (Mark 5:19) Notice: • “Go” — same verb that introduces the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). • “Your own people” — the Gentile towns of the Decapolis (v. 20), showing that non-Jews are already in Jesus’ sights. • Result: “Everyone was amazed” (v. 20), a miniature picture of nations hearing and marveling. Direct Parallels to the Great Commission • Matthew 28:19 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” • Mark 16:15 — “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” • Acts 1:8 — “You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” Mark 5 shows Jesus Himself modeling the international reach He later mandates: 1. He crosses the sea—disciples will cross continents. 2. He confronts darkness—disciples will confront spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12). 3. He commissions a new believer on the spot—disciples will baptize and teach new converts everywhere. Scripture’s Consistent Witness • Isaiah 49:6 prophesied that the Servant would be “a light for the nations.” • Galatians 3:8 points out that the gospel was “announced in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’” Jesus’ stop in Gerasene country fits seamlessly into that prophetic arc. Take-Home Truths • The Great Commission is rooted in Jesus’ own pattern of ministry; He never tells us to do what He has not first done. • No place, culture, or person is outside the Savior’s concern; He seeks the isolated, oppressed, and unreachable. • Our mission today mirrors Mark 5:1—step over boundaries, proclaim deliverance, and watch God turn new believers into messengers. |
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