Matthew 8:28-34 (NIV) When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He 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. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
There are a few things to note in this event. First, these demon-possessed men were so vile and so violent that no one dared to go near them. No one, that is, except Jesus. Jesus was never afraid of boogey men or things that went bump in the night. He absolutely knew demons for what they were. He never underestimated them, but He never gave them more respect than they warranted. He knew that He outnumbered them, no matter how many of them there were.
The demons know that, too. Even though there was a legion of them in these men (cf. Luke 8:30), they were instantly reduced to begging for their very existence when Jesus showed up. They begged Jesus to send them into the nearby herd of pigs instead of into the abyss, and Jesus gave them permission to do so. He then spoke the single word, “Go!” to send them on their way.
The townspeople were shocked at the return to sanity of the formerly demon-possessed man, and dismayed by the loss of the pigs. But overall, the thing that intimidated them the most was the power that Jesus demonstrated. The power of the demons was fearsome, and completely unnerving, but the idea that here was a man that the demons felt that way about was too much for them. Jesus’ very presence intimidated them. He felt dangerous to them, and unpredictable, too. So they (politely) asked Him to leave their area.
Father, many people deal with things that have them mastered, and long for freedom. But they are also intimidated by any power that could easily banish that evil against which they have fruitlessly struggled for so long. I guess, as people, we prefer power that we can control, or at least understand. More than that, and we pull back and turn away – even if the power is beneficial and benevolent. But You don’t want us to turn away. You desire that we actually become channels of Your power, so that we will be able to accomplish even greater things than Jesus Himself (cf. John 14:12). Help us to not run and hide from Your amazing power, but to allow ourselves to become immersed in it, for the world’s sake. Amen.