Read: Mark 4:35-6:6
Verses chosen for reflection
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Reflect
This passage is full of irony.
Firstly, when the demon-possessed man was unwell and out of control, the people had a hard time binding him. In the end, they left him largely be even though he cried day and night and cur himself with stones. Yet, when Jesus delivered him from the many demons inside of him; those who knew him were afraid. They seem to be more disturbed by the fact that the man was healed; rather than to celebrate that he had been delivered of his many years of torment!
Secondly, when the people heard about how Jesus drove the demons into a herd of pigs and they drowned themselves; they did not rejoice but pleaded with Him to leave their region. Again, they seemed more disturbed with the notion that some herdsmen lost a herd of pigs than the destruction of a legion of demons!
The people exhibited the two most common human phenomenon when we meet with something extraordinary. The first is the fear of the unknown. The people could not deal with the fact that Jesus had healed the man tormented by demons for so many years. They could not understand how Jesus did it for they had been trying to put him under control for years. They could not believe that Jesus had come to do something good for the man and also for the region. They wanted things to be back to "normal". The second is the consideration of how an extraordinary event would affect our personal interest. While the demons were driven into the herd of pigs, and the pigs drowned themselves in the sea; the people were concerned for the lost of and possible future lost of material possessions. If Jesus were to stay on in the region, they might lose more pigs or even other "treasures" they considered to be more important than the life of the possessed man.
Relate
What would be our response when we witness an extraordinary event from the hands of God?
Would our first instinct be fear? Or would it be awe and reverence for we know that God initiate miracles for His good purposes? Or would our response be how we can make that event work for our own interest? Like telling people about the miracle so that we can get attention for ourselves? Or would it be that we ask God how He wants us to deal with such a miracle? What are His next steps so that we who witness can be of use for His glory?
When we witness something extraordinary through the work of God, it is therefore important to ask good questions. Questions that can set our heart right with Him. Questions that can focus our hearts, not so much on the appeal of the miracle; but more on the Giver of the miracle. Then, I believe the Lord will steer us towards what is truly important for His kingdom.
In the event of the drowned pigs, the right response would be how we can further care for the man who just recovered from demon possession. Jesus healed him because He loved him. We as His children should learn to love even as Jesus did. The right response would also be to welcome Jesus to stay for as long as He wants to in the region. We recognise that nothing is as important as our spiritual life in Him. Our soul is definitely worth much more than whatever possessions we may have. Hence, Jesus is the Treasure we should be seeking; much more than any silver or gold.
Rest
Christ our Treasure by Sovereign Grace Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojGdgYHwxyU
Jason
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