Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 5:18

"And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him." — Mark 5:18 (ASV)

Jesus decided to return to the west side of the lake. The man who had been possessed wanted to go with him (v.18)—a perfectly natural reaction. He was eager for Jesus’ company, for no one had ever shown him such love and compassion. But our Lord did not allow it. Instead he gave him the much more difficult task of returning home to his family to bear testimony to what Jesus in his mercy had done for him (v.19). This contrasts with Jesus’ command to the leper in 1:44. Since the demoniac was in Gentile territory, there would be little danger that popular messianic ideas about him might be circulated. Jesus realized that this man could be trusted to convey to others the real truth about him.