The ruins of the city of Gadara are evidence of the former greatness and prosperity of the place, whose citizens besought the Lord to depart out of their coasts. Our illustration gives the hilly country where the city stood, and the remains of one of its theatres. The hill sides around the site of Gadara are dotted with tombs—caves for purposes of burial being cut in the limestone cliffs in great numbers. These tombs are almost like little houses, being chambers several feet square, with stone doors to them; some of which still remain upon their hinges—and to this day these chambers are the dwelling places of the poor people who now live in “the country of the Gadarenes.”
The unhappy man upon whom Jesus had compassion was a dweller in these tombs—he lived in the very abode of death, and in him Satan dwelt. When the Lord came across the Sea of Galilee, the moment He set His foot upon the coasts of the Gadarenes this unhappy man met Him, crying out and begging Jesus not to torment him. He owned the Lord’s power, but never dreamed of His love. The devils believe and tremble.
But Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost—He came to deliver us from him who had the power of death, that is, the devil—and He quickly cast out the evil spirits from the man, and then gently asked him his name. He calmed him, clothed him, and the man sat down quiet and happy near the Lord. One word from the Lord was enough to accomplish the work, and by it the wretched man was brought to his right mind, and to his right place. Then he earnestly longed to go with Jesus into the ship, and to cross the Sea of Galilee with Him; but the Lord had a work for him to do for Him. “Go home,” He said, “to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” And he, whom all the people feared, entered their city and told of Jesus, till they all marveled. And so it is still: the Lord leaves His people in this world a little while, that they may tell their friends what a Saviour He is. None can speak of His compassion as those who have felt its sweetness. The Lord has saved you, and brought you to sit at His feet, that you may show—in your home and among your friends, by your ways and your words—what a Saviour has found you, and has had compassion on you.
It is at home that our work of telling who Jesus is, and what He is to us, should begin, A little while ago we heard of a child who was very busy in all kinds of good works, as they are called, outside her house, but whose temper and pride at home were most painful to witness. Such is not the kind of religion the Lord loves. Seek, then, to begin at home to serve the Lord, by letting all see what He has done for you.