Marcus Valerius- Mark 5

Today, I went to Tiberius to work out some shipping details for the supplies my men need. It was my day off and so I leisurely made my way to the city. On my way, I noticed a small boat leaving Capernaum towards the town of Gerasenes. In the boat was Jesus and around ten men, all of whom I’d seen following him throughout the city on a daily basis. The stories about Jesus and his miracles had spread like wildfire and everyone was talking about him. Nobody could decide who he was exactly and how he healed people. Some said he was a prophet, like Moses and Elijah. Some said he was possessed by demons. A rare few thought he was the Messiah, the Son of God come to save Israel from Roman oppression. As for myself, I have yet to decide. While I don’t think salvation from Roman ‘oppression’ is necessary, there might be some truth to this Son of God thing. There is something about Him…

Anyways, I finished my business in Tiberius and decided to walk through Gerasenes to see if Jesus was there. Sure enough, I came across him and his disciples as they were getting out of their boat. I watched from a distance as a man, obviously out of his senses (as he was shaking violently), ran towards Jesus and immediately fell at his feet. He was yelling something about the Son of the Most High God and tormenting him. I was quite puzzled, so I moved forward in order to hear him more clearly. Jesus said to the man, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Then I realized who this man was. I’d heard of a crazy man in this region, one who was demon possessed. He lived among the tombs and was strong enough to break chains and shackles apart! He spent his days crying and bruising himself with stones. Jesus asked him what his name was, and he told him it was Legion and then proceeded to beg Jesus not to sent him out of the area. As he was talking, a large herd of pigs meandered onto a nearby hillside. The voices of the spirits in Legion, asked Jesus if he would send them into the pigs. He allowed them to and all of the pigs suddenly ran into the lake and drowned. After the pigs drowned, the men of the town became quite afraid of Jesus. They saw the man who had been possessed now clothed and acting normally, and they begin to plead Jesus to leave them.

                I was in complete awe. I was ready to follow this man. I had seen his power, his humility and his love. There was no one like him. I know his disciples left everything they had and owned to follow him. I plan to do the same. My job as a Roman centurion is nothing compared to following what I believe in this Jesus guy’s teachings. I am determined to learn all I can from him, and in order to do this, am resigning from my duties in Capernaum for the Roman army and the honorable Herod Antipas. I hope my commander will not be angry with me.