Scripture

Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, and they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

Observation

Jesus and the disciples cross the lake on a boat. A fierce storm breaks, threatening to sink the boat, but Jesus sleeps through it. The disciples wake Him up and ask Him to save them.

Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, and suddenly there is a great calm. The disciples are amazed at His authority.

They arrive a the other side of the lake where they encounter two demonised men living in a cemetery. The demons recognise Jesus and start screaming. They beg Jesus to be sent into the herd of pigs nearby. So Jesus commands the demons to go, and the whole herd of pigs plunges down the hillside and into the lake.

The herdsmen flee to a nearby town, telling everyone what had happened. The entire town comes out to Jesus pleading with Him to go away.

Application

Many people want the benefits of Jesus without any cost to their lifestyle. This is why Jesus could truthfully say that many would call “Lord! Lord!” but not be saved.

The people of the town were not moved by the deliverance of the two severely demonised men. They were confronted by the loss of property and income that his freedom cost them.

They saw the miracle. They may even have recognised that Jesus was someone special. Yet, they wanted nothing to do with him, pleading with Him to leave them alone.

People can get excited about miracles and extraordinary healings. Then they go home unaffected.

In the end it is unbelief that holds people captive to sin. They refuse to believe that there is a better way to live, a better Lord to serve, than the one they have.

Jesus warns us to count the cost of following Him. Too many see the cost, but not the returns which are eternal.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to look to what I gain in following you, which is always a million times better than anything you ask me to give up for your sake. Amen.