The Power of a Testimony

"Go away! Leave us alone! We don't want to have anything to do with you!" the people cried.

Turning away from the people, Jesus starts getting back into the boat. 

"Wait, let me go with you," a man cries, "please"!

Jesus turns with compassionate eyes on the man who has just been healed. "No", he firmly replies. "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been."

Turning around, the man immediately starts off on his mission. He goes around and visits the Ten Towns of that region and begins to proclaim the great things Jesus has done for him.

As a result of his testimony, everyone is amazed. 

Follow the arrows from dark to light

In the meantime, Jesus passes back to the other side of the lake to Capernaum and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead. Then Jesus travels to Nazareth where he is also rejected. Jesus then goes from village to village, teaching the people. He also sends out his twelve disciples in pairs to share about him and to bless the people by healing the sick and casting out evil spirits. After they return from their missionary journeys, Jesus takes them to a quiet place near Bethsaida to rest awhile, but people follow them and here he ends up feeding the 5,000 men with their families. Jesus sends his disciples away by boat to Bethsaida and comes walking to them on the water during the night. After crossing the lake, they land at Gennesaret where Jesus heals many people and speaks to the Jewish leaders about inner purity. From there, Jesus travels north to the region of Tyre. Here, Jesus casts a devil out of a Gentile girl in response to her mother's faith in him. Then Jesus leaves Tyre and goes up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns.

Ah, so now Jesus is back where we started our story. This time a large crowd gather to listen to him. They are receptive this time. They have heard the testimony of the man who was possessed with the evil spirits. They bring a deaf man to Jesus and beg him to heal him. Jesus heals the man and the people are completely amazed and say again and again, "Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak."

The people stay there for three days with Jesus and run out of food. Jesus feels sorry for them and gathers together the seven loaves and few small fish which they have left and multiply it so that there is enough to feed the 4,000 men and their families which are gathered there. After everyone has eaten enough, they gather together seven large baskets of leftover food and then Jesus sends them all home. 

Wow, what a turnaround! From rejection to acceptance. What made the difference? The sharing of a personal testimony. The man didn't know much about God, but he did know what God had done for him so he shared that. That opened the way for Jesus to return and share more.

Story from Mark 5:17 - 8:9. Image generated using Advent AI.

Faithfulness to Commitment

Thirteen weeks! Christmas day marked the completion of thirteen weeks of workouts. Thirteen weeks ago I committed to doing workouts five days per week to improve my overall health and tone my body. I have been faithful to that commitment and I intend to continue doing so. Although it has been quite tough at times, I have had good support from my husband and other family members and I have relied on God's strength. It is He that has enabled me to be faithful to my commitment. 

While our faithfulness to our commitments is often unreliable, God is always faithful.

He always stands by his covenant—
the commitment he made to a thousand generations.

Psalm 105:8 NLT 

This verse is particularly referring to the commitment that God made to Abraham that He would give him the land of Canaan. While it took many years, and many trials, the people did receive the land in the end and God blessed them so much along the way. He arranged for Joseph to be in charge of the food in Egypt in preparation for the famine. He sent the Israelites into Egypt, into the best part of the land, during the time of the famine so that they would have food to eat. He multiplied them while they were in Egypt so that they became a great nation. He performed many miracles to bring them out of Egypt. He compelled the Egyptians to give all their valuables to the Israelites when they left Egypt. He miraculously brought them through the Red Sea and sustained them in the wilderness for forty years with food that miraculously came from heaven. He provided water for the people throughout their wanderings, even bringing water from a rock. He did so much for them, even giving them crops ready to harvest when they arrived in the promised land.

He gave his people the lands of pagan nations,
and they harvested crops that others had planted.

Psalm 105:44 NLT

God is always faithful and He has committed to give us the promised land, a new earth.

“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,
and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

Isaiah 65:17 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

John 14:1-3 NLT

God has proven His faithfulness in the past, He continues to prove His faithfulness in the present, we can trust Him to be faithful in the future.

Conviction to Conversion

The last shout had rung out, the last stone had been cast, the last robe gathered up. The pile of stones rose conspicuously, hiding the man crushed beneath them but leaving the vision of the man burned into his memory. The man's declaration hung in the air: Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand! He shook himself vigorously. "What blasphemy!" he muttered.

Turning away from the stirring scene, he followed the crowd of men returning to the city. He quickened his steps and drew his robe closer about him. As he reached the group, a notable pharisee stepped up beside him. "Well done son", he said, "you did well today. A promotion is certainly coming your way. How do you feel about taking the lead with dealing with the rest of these blasphemous Christians?"

"Me? It would be a great honour Rabbi. I will hunt them down from house to house. I will drag them out, both men and women, and will throw them into prison. I will destroy them all! Just you wait and see!"

In the days that followed, he was very troubled. It certainly seemed like God was present there with the martyr as he was stoned. Maybe he was right. Earnestly he sought for wisdom and answers from the priests and rulers. After listening to many arguments, he finally decided that the priests and scribes were right. The stoned man was a blasphemer. The Christ that he preached was an impostor. Closing his ears to the voice of his conscience, he devoted himself to his mission of destroying all the followers of this way. 

Months had passed, during which time he had been very busy. He hurried through the streets of Jerusalem towards the agreed meeting place. His mission had been very successful but it was not enough. It was time to expand beyond the walls of Jerusalem. Therefore he was on his way to meet with the high priest.

"Sir," he cried, "I have been faithful in executing the mission given to me after the stoning of that blasphemous man. Many followers of this so-called Christ have been put to death. Nevertheless, reports are circulating that these Christians have scattered from Jerusalem to many other towns. In fact, I have it on good account that there is a large group of them growing in Damascus. Therefore, I pray that you will give me letters that I may go to Damascus, arrest these people and drag them back here to Jerusalem in chains that we may properly deal with them." 

"I will give you the letters," he replied. "Go with the Lord's blessing to vindicate his honour."

It was the sixth, and last, day of his journey. As he crested the hill around midday, he could see the city of Damascus stretched out before him in the valley below. Throughout the journey he had had ample opportunity to think about his mission, how it had started and to where it had reached. He thought once again of the stoning. The sermon that lead to the stoning had been very convincing. He had almost been persuaded to believe, but how could all the religious leaders be so wrong? No, they had to be right. He must continue to be faithful in his mission to purify the nation from this blasphemy.

Suddenly a bright light, brighter than the sun, shone all around him. In terror he fell prostrate to the ground. As he lay there motionless, he heard a voice cry out: "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will." 

"Who are you, lord?" he gasped.

"I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." was the startling reply.

The light faded and his men, recovering from their shock, gathered around his prostrate form. They helped him to his feet, but soon realised he was totally blind. Therefore, leading him by the hand they brought him into the city. After making enquiries, they brought him to the house of Judas on the main street of the city, Straight Street. 

Three days later, three days where he refused to eat or drink, there came a knock at the door. A man named Ananias was brought in to Saul. "Brother Saul," Ananias greeted warmly, "the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Instantly, something like scales fell from his eyes and his sight was restored. Rising up, he was baptized and then sat down to eat some food and regain his strength.

References: Acts 7:56; Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1-19; Acts 26:12-18; Acts of the Apostles by Ellen White pp. 112-122.