Confident HopeJesus Teaches about Hope
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Why Are You Afraid?
Matthew 8:28-34
The MessageThe Madmen and the Pigs28-31 They landed in the country of the Gadarenes and were met by two madmen, victims of demons, coming out of the cemetery. The men had terrorized the region for so long that no one considered it safe to walk down that stretch of road anymore. Seeing Jesus, the madmen screamed out, “What business do you have giving us a hard time? You’re the Son of God! You weren’t supposed to show up here yet!” Off in the distance, a herd of pigs was grazing and rooting. The evil spirits begged Jesus, “If you kick us out of these men, let us live in the pigs.” 32-34 Jesus said, “Go ahead, but get out of here!” Crazed, the pigs stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned. Scared to death, the swineherds bolted. They told everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs. Those who heard about it were angry about the drowned pigs. A mob formed and demanded that Jesus get out and not come back. For ReflectionIt was a shocking event. Jesus drove the demons out of the men and into the swine. The resident demons which had driven the men mad entered the pigs. The pigs became insane and lost all sense of what they were. The swine could no longer follow their instincts and fled aimlessly to their deaths.
But the mob, unable to see beyond their selfish desires, were driven by their own fears of losing whatever they had accumulated. So the people became angry at Jesus for disturbing their sense of security in the way things were.
Pray Pray and question the way things always work in your corporeal world. Pray and see beyond your need for security and into the security of following Christ. Pray and strengthen your trust in God. Pray and follow the way of Jesus no matter where it leads you.
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