28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
32He 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. 33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then 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 (New International Version)
Although the two men mentioned in this passage were demon-possessed, they knew who where their ulitmate authority came from...Jesus. Jesus is always in command, even of the devil. For example, these men ASKED Jesus to be sent to the herd of pigs rather than sending themselves as they pleased.
Also, I see that the men were aware of the day of judgement. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" They knew they were going to be judged one day, but thought the time came too soon.
When I think about how this passage could apply into my life, I am reminded of Jesus' authority above all things and the day of judgement. I can not continue to live life as if I have all the time in the world to live my life for Christ. The time is now, and I must continue to prepare for His coming.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
You're right Esther, we never know when the last day of the world is going to be and also when the last day of our lives is going to be.
Whenever I read this passage, I see a horrible picture of the "demon-possessed men". It sounds scary. But these days I feel I'm such a bad sinner. That demon-possessed men could be me, who lives opposed to God's words and has no difference from people of the world.
Please pray for me to be a good christian who doesn't break the promises to God anymore.
Thank you Esther for your blog today. If we looked at verse 34, the whole town went out to meet Jesus and told him to leave the town. Didn't Jesus just set two demon possessed men free? The whole town wither saw or heard the miracle Jesus performed. Their eyes and ears were only attentive to the herd of pigs that was drawn. They concerned more about their financial loss than delieverance of two demon possessed men. We can definitely apply this story into our own life.
Have a blessed day, everyone!!
thanks for an insightful reflection, esther. you are right to point out the authority that Jesus has over the evil spirits.
matthew 8 has been examining the authority that Jesus has over every realm: sickness (the man with leprosy, the centurion's servant, peter's mother-in-law), the elements (the storm), our lives (v 18-22) and now evil spirits.
the townspeople recognized through this miracle that Jesus was the Lord. they witnessed with their own eyes His power and authority over demons.
yet verse 23 states that "when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region."
how strange that having realized and witnessed Jesus's authority and lordship over their lives that they would ask Him to depart! how strange and yet how familiar and close to home!
when we realize Jesus's lordship over our own lives we react in one of two ways. we either submit our lives to Him, or we depart from His presence.
this "departing" from His presence is really a refusal to submit in obedience to His lordship and it manifests itself in different ways. avoiding worship, Bible-reading, prayer, the stifling of our consciences, the refusal to repent, doing things we know are displeasing to the Lord and yet doing them anyway--the ways are endless.
the terrible thing is that when the townspeople pleaded with Jesus to "leave their region", knowing that submitting to Jesus's lordship would "impose" on their lives, HE DOES.
if we ask Him to "depart", He will, not wishing to stay where He is not welcome and not loved. if we stay away from Him a long enough time, we may never find Him again.
What a scary thought that if you ask Jesus to leave he will.
Post a Comment