“The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.” – Luke 8:38-39
One would think that seeing a crazy naked man, one who was long known to be demonically possessed, suddenly being restored to his right mind – this would be more than enough for the village locals to break out the wine and the welcoming party.
But not so.
“When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.” – Luke 8:34-37.
The fear of the locals is somewhat understandable, but only up to a point. Had they not realized that the once naked and crazy man sitting before them at Jesus’ feet was now wearing clothes, smiling, laughing, and in his right mind? What on earth was there to fear? Was this not cause for joyous celebration?
Sadly, the crowd thought otherwise. They didn’t just ask Jesus to leave. They begged him to go and leave them alone. If the man’s own family or neighbors had been there, I wonder if they would’ve been begging Jesus to leave like they were?
But the man restored? No way! He didn’t want his Lord and Savior to leave. And as he saw Jesus leaving, he begged and pleaded himself. Please, let me come with you! I want to follow you! But Jesus had other plans for him. “No, go back to your family and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” (Vv. 38-39)
The man who had been healed showed his love for Jesus by telling everyone what he had done for him. Isn’t it sad that those who have suffered the least tend to be the most ungrateful of the bunch?
Some take life for granted, while others take it with gratitude.
O, how might our cities begin to change if we took a page from that man’s book? What might happen if we’d simply take a moment or two to share just a few things that Jesus has done for us with someone that doesn’t know him? Does Christ not deserve our gratitude? Or are our hearts more representative of the locals who ignored the love and kindness of Jesus and simply want to be left alone?
The crowd begged Jesus to leave, and leave he did. But isn’t it interesting that when we pick up in the very next verse, we read something entirely different?
“On the other side of the lake, crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him.” (Luke 8:40)
One side wanted him to leave immediately, and the other side couldn’t wait for him to arrive. Which side are you on?
Former Blackout Artist 