Matthew 8:28-34 – “When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, ” What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. 31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. 33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.”  NASB

It is interesting to consider how many times, in the Word of God, people encountered Jesus only to turn Him away and lose their “Chance of a Lifetime.”  I can only imagine how the heart of God was grieved each time.  That grief was compounded as city after city and group after group rejected the offer of the Lord Jesus to experience God’s Abundant Life.

The very presence of Jesus spoke of the Abundant Love the Father had and has for the world.  John 3:16 is pounding in my ears as I consider this reality.  That truth was demonstrated and evidenced in the very person and presence of Jesus.  God is Love, and Love was walking in their midst, yet they repeatedly turned Love away.

In this incident, we find that Jesus had just ministered to several different and difficult cases, bringing the miraculous into the midst of those observing.  He had healed the Lepers, the Centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law and had quieted the storm on the sea. 

His followers observed and were amazed at the incredible power of God in the person of Jesus.  Now, He had come to the country of the Gadarenes and was met by two demon-possessed men.  Mark only identifies one, but Matthew tells us there were two.  These men had been bringing terror into the hearts and lives of those around them.  They were violent and dangerous.

The demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God and knew they were powerless in His presence because of His faith, not simply His divinity.  They requested, and Jesus granted that they enter the herd of hogs in the area and cast them out.  The keepers of the hogs went to the city and reported what had transpired.  They told of the exhibition of supernatural power and divine authority they had witnessed.  I am sure they said, “Something miraculous has transpired, come and see.”  Talk about advertising eyewitness testimony!

THE WHOLE CITY WENT OUT TO MEET JESUS.

According to the biblical account, there were about 2,000 hogs lost in this incident, but two souls (human beings) had been liberated from the power of darkness.  One would think that even with the financial loss, they would be ecstatic about the two men, but as the story progresses, we find that mammon was more important than people.  Is today really that much different?

Imagine this scene.  The Messiah had come to their country.  Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime.  Unfortunately, they did not come to see a savior. They came to see a sign.  They came out of curiosity.  They came because of carnal greed and concern for their livelihood.  Their focus was not salvation.  They came out of curiosity, question, and concern for their way of life.

In my years of Christian service, I have noticed that if something supernatural transpires, people will drive hundreds of miles to see what has happened.  It does not have to be a miracle; it may be an act of incredible evil through demonic, but the interest and curiosity peak, and people come in droves.  People are naturally “sign seekers” and “supernatural hunters.”

What an opportunity this city had.  The entire city was on the scene, and Jesus was in their midst.  This is an opportunity to hear the Messiah speak and work miracles in their midst.  This is their Day, their Opportunity.  The question is, what will they do with Jesus?

What were they thinking?  In this event, I saw the entire city come out to meet Jesus and see the supernatural occurrence.  I am pretty sure they were apprehensive, probably fearful, and curious. 

WHEN THEY SAW JESUS, THEY REALIZED THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT.

The presence of Jesus always brought light into the darkness and caused men to realize their sinfulness.  His Holiness made them uncomfortable, and it still does. I do not doubt that they conjured an image of Him in their minds as they came to the scene, but He was not what they expected.  Their curiosity morphed into fear and trepidation, and the conviction they were feeling made them incredibly uncomfortable.

Remember what the soldiers said to the rulers who had sent them to arrest Jesus.  As revealed in John 7:46, they returned and said, “…never man spake like this man….”  We have never heard anything like what He is saying, and we recognize a power in His words and an authority we have never witnessed before. 

I have little doubt they expected to see something spectacular and watch the show.  They were not expecting the moral and spiritual demands that His presence brought into their midst.  The holiness of Jesus touched them, and when God comes into the presence of sin, sin is made incredibly uncomfortable.

I suggest that it is impossible to come into the presence of Jesus and go away the same way you came.  You may not accept Him, but you are impacted eternally.  His presence brings the holiness of God into whatever situation He enters.  Jesus’ presence made them uncomfortable, and they reacted as carnal, sinful man often does in the presence of God.

THEY ASKED HIM TO LEAVE.

Their actions suggested that they preferred hogs to liberty.  They did not give Him the opportunity to teach them the truths of God and bring to them the Light of God’s Love; their fear and focus on the material drove them to reject Jesus.  They were uncomfortable in His presence, and His presence represented a loss of economic gain, so they asked Him to leave.

Jesus brought disorder to their order.  He brought the abnormal to their normal.  If He remained in their midst, there would be some changes required, and they wanted to stay in their comfort zones and their way of life.  His presence brought conviction to their hearts.  Conviction will either break us and bring us to Jesus or prompt us to build a wall, a barrier, and reject Him.  He had come to bring Liberty to these people; they missed the opportunity of a lifetime!  They turned Him away.

I suggest that they are not very different from people today.  Jesus has come time and again to people only to have them refuse to open the door.  He stands at the door and knocks today as He did then.  How often do people do what these people did and ask Him to “leave their coasts or region.”  They were like the person who told me, “Preacher, I cannot accept Jesus because if I do, I will have to stop doing what I like to do.”  He meant, “I enjoy sin and don’t want to stop.”  The Bible tells us that sin is pleasurable (Hebrews 11:26).

Jesus has come to us today. The only question is, “What Will We Do With Him?”  He has come to Save, Heal, Deliver, and bring us God’s Abundant Life.  He has come to provide whatever we need.  Opportunity is knocking at our door today.  The only question is, “What Will We Do With Jesus?”  I pray that we will say, “Enter, Lord Jesus.  I receive You and want to Live in Your Presence.”

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!