Some people are what I call “water shed people.” They have very strong personalities and people will either tolerate the person’s idiosyncrasies and love them or people will respond against them. “Please leave me alone,” might as well be written on their T-shirt. The demons in our text today immediately recognize Jesus and accurately assess their demise. They are doomed. Unlike the disciples caught in the storm crossing the sea who woke Jesus asking for help, these demons bargain. They do not ask for forgiveness. Knowing they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar, they shift the focus from the two men they had possessed to a herd of swine. Jesus sends them into the swine and the swine run into the lake and perish. We do not know what happened to the demons but we know they did not harrass the two men any more.
The town’s people hear the report and they must now make a choice too. Will they become followers of Jesus or will they avoid him. They ask Jesus to leave. Jesus will not force us to be his followers or trust him. The proof of who he is shows in is life, but it is our choice whether we allow him in our lives or not.
“28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, ‘What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’ 30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ 32 And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. 33 The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighbourhood. (Matthew 8: 28-34)”
Daily we make choices between God’s rule and the world’s ideals. We must decide whom we are going to trust, not just because we think the result will be to our benefit and our profit. Perhaps the demon’s fate was sealed but the town’s people could choose. They asked Jesus to leave. Let us take a moment to survey our lives and ask the Holy Spirit if there is some way we are asking God to “please leave” that aspect of my life alone. We might think it is just our private little sin but God knows. Lord, help me to submit to your authority in all areas of my life! Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 