The Rest of the Story . . ?

Have you ever seen a news report or heard a story that made you wonder what the rest of the story was?  I came across one of those stories in the book of Luke, chapter 8.

"On a certain day," Jesus got into a boat with His disciples and told them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out.

Sailing across the lake, Jesus falls asleep and a powerful storm descends from the surrounding mountains nearly swamping the boat. His disciples, some of whom were experienced fisherman, were so spooked that they rushed to Jesus. "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

Jesus rose,  rebuked the wind and raging water, and the storm just stopped.  Which I can imagine freaked the disciples out even more.  Imagine seeing someone tell the wind and water to stop and it does!  Who is this Man?

They sailed on and arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, in what is now Jordan!  Immediately, Jesus was met by a demon-possessed and naked man.  This man had been demon-possessed for a long time.  He had been placed under guard and bound with chains and shackles, which could not hold him.  And he was driven into the wilderness around the lake by the demons, where he lived among the tombs.

The demons recognized Jesus and begged Him not to torment them.  Jesus asked him for his name and the demons answered, "Legion" because many demons had entered him. They then begged Him to allow them to enter a herd of swine feeding nearby rather than sending them into the abyss.  Jesus permitted them.

You know the story, the demon's entered the swine and then ran down into the lake.  The keepers of the swine ran into the city telling everyone what had happened.  When the people from the city came out to find out to see for themselves, they found the demon-possessed man in his right mind, clothed and sitting at Jesus' feet.  They responded in fear, begging Jesus to depart their country.

The man begs to go with Jesus, but He tells him, "Return to your own home and tell what great things God has done for you." Then, Jesus and His disciples return to the other side of the lake.

OK, so my question is, who was this man? And what was the response to his testimony in the city?

It appears as though Jesus specifically crossed the lake to deliver him.  And, it seems that the enemy whipped up a powerful storm to prevent them from reaching him.  So who was he?  What was his history in the city?

Then again, maybe the man himself was not anyone important at all.  Yet, Jesus crossed the lake for him.  I would just love to know the rest of the story.  His history and then what happened to him after his deliverance?  How many in the city were intrigued and sought Jesus for themselves because of his testimony?  What difference did this event make in the lives of those who knew of it?

And the disciples?  How were they touched by this?  First to see Jesus' power over the natural forces of the world.  And then, to see His power over the supernatural forces of the demonic.  Can you imagine a host of demons begging Jesus?  I mean, we understand now Who Jesus was, but for the disciples it must have been so amazing to see.

Anyway, as I said, this is one of those times I would love to know the rest of the story.  I long to know the  reason this man, this event, was so important.  And I want to know what came of this meeting?

But to make it personal, I wonder how important my witness for Christ may be.  In this story, the people of the city feared and sent Jesus away.  They would not even hear the message.  But the man could then go and tell them his story.  Makes me realize more clearly that where Jesus is rejected and ignored by the world, our testimony may be the thing that He uses to soften those hearts, to reach past those fears, prejudices, and lies of the world.  Perhaps we can be His emissaries to open otherwise closed hearts and minds by our stories of what He has done for us.

I wonder what the rest of the story could be in my life or yours!!!