“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” (Matthew 8:28-34)
This is a strange encounter between Jesus and the demon-possessed men. Two things come to my mind from it.
There are forces at work in our world that we cannot see. We are so unfamiliar with the work of demons. On the one hand, it would be wrong for us to see a demon behind every bad thing that happens around us and in every person who has some kind of problem. On the other hand, it would be wrong for us to believe that the work of demons is no longer influencing people’s lives and our world in any way. There is great comfort in knowing that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We need not fear the power of demons in our own lives because of the superior power and authority of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
There were some people who were not comfortable having Jesus around. The people of the town near the place where He cast out the demons pleaded with Jesus to leave their region. Can you imagine that? They didn’t want Jesus anywhere near them. Although it is hard to understand that is still true today. There are people who are not comfortable having Jesus around. There are people who are not comfortable when Jesus is a topic of conversation. There are people who do not want His Word to be read or preached or followed. There are many people who do not want their lives changed by the presence of God. Sometimes His work in our lives is painful and uncomfortable, but don’t run from Him, everything He does is for our good and out of His love.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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