Jesus' Work Is Proclaimed as the Lord's Work
James Tissot
Scripture
What Was Said or Done
Historical and Cultural Context
The healed man wishes to accompany Jesus, but Jesus instead commissions him to bear witness in his own region. His testimony becomes an early proclamation in the largely Gentile Decapolis.
The Greek word kyrios can mean Lord, master, or sir and must always be interpreted contextually.
Old Testament Background
In Israel's Scriptures, deliverance from destructive spiritual powers ultimately belongs to the LORD. Mark's wording is especially interesting because Jesus attributes the deliverance to 'the Lord,' while the narrator says the man proclaimed what Jesus had done.
Exposition
Jesus commands, 'Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.' Mark immediately reports that the man began proclaiming how much Jesus had done for him.
The simplest narrative reading is that the man's proclamation correctly reports the saving work he has experienced through Jesus.
Why This Points to His Divinity
Because kyrios can have more than one sense, this should not be made into a mechanical lexical proof.
The deliberate Lord/Jesus correspondence nevertheless contributes strongly to Mark's larger pattern of placing Jesus within divine actions and scriptural roles.
Response of the Hearers
The delivered man proclaims throughout the Decapolis what Jesus has done, and everyone marvels.