The Madman and the Pigs
26-29 They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He hadn’t worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and bellowed, “What business do you have messing with me? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, but don’t give me a hard time!” (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He had been placed under constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven wild by the demon, he would shatter the bonds.
30-31 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Mob. My name is Mob,” he said, because many demons afflicted him. And they begged Jesus desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit.
32-33 A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged Jesus to order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned.
34-36 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had been sent, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, wearing decent clothes and making sense. It was a holy moment, and for a short time they were more reverent than curious. Then those who had seen it happen told how the demoniac had been saved.
37-39 Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off. The man whom he had delivered from the demons asked to go with him, but he sent him back, saying, “Go home and tell everything God did in you.” So he went back and preached all over town everything Jesus had done in him.
The disciples sailed together with Jesus to Gerasenes, experienced how Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, and now seeing how the spiritual demonic force were so real to them - a mob of evil spirits were cast out by the command of Jesus. The mad man was recovered to a normal person again. Who is Jesus? Those tending the pigs knew about the mad man before and they joined the holy moment and became more reverent to Jesus' power over the demons. But other people from the city later asked Jesus to leave them as they were too scared and considered too fast to receive the manifestation of the kingdom of God upon them.
My Lord Jesus, I thank you again for calling me to be one of your disciples, having the opportunity to see what you do; to hear what you speak; and to experience how you demonstrate your power of Kingdom on earth. Give me faith to believe what you are doing on earth; give me a heart of reverence and awe in your works; and give me courage to overcome my fear as you show your mighty transforming and healing works in people's lives.
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