Saturday 16 June 2007

Day 14: In Return For Our Commitment


When he arrived at the other side in theregion 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.” Matt 8:28-34 (NIV)


It has taken me such a long time to understand this verse, I would say that this verse has been my biggest hurdle in the bible, I just didn’t get it. But I think I have got it now.
I see this verse as ‘people value lively-hood more than Jesus. If this is completely wrong can someone give me a clue here.


I always thought that this was one thing that Jess stuffed up, he killed these pigs and hence was kick out of town and no-one was saved.

To the owner of those pigs, Jess had just destroyed his meal ticket, he had nothing left, Jesus just killed his pigs. But Jesus had done far more than that, he had freed two men, who came to Christ, he eradicated these demons back to hell inside these pigs (pigs can swim for up to 1km if required, Jesus just sent then straight to hell).


Jesus had made his choice, he would prefer to save even just one person at the expense of an entire herd of animals. What a sacrifice for just one person, but not nearly as much as what was to come.

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