Often I wonder why Jesus accomplishes his purposes in the peculiar ways that he does. But I've learned that peculiarity is usually a clue to a deeper theological message that He is trying to convey to those who will "dig deep" and listen. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 8:8)
Let's summarize this brief account:
Two demon possessed men come to him
He drives the demons into a herd of pigs
The herd rushes down the mountain and drowns in the lake
The people of the village plead with him to leave their region
First of all, the demons recognize Jesus as the Messiah instantly. They know He is omnipotent and immediately place themselves (appropriately) at his command. They assume he will drive them out of the two men and request their destination to be among the herd of pigs - implication: Anywhere, but hell!
The strange thing is that Jesus actually grants their request. Why even take notice of the request of demons?
His purpose (as in most cases) was in demonstrating a deeper theological truth: It was for the deliverance of the souls of the two men that he drove out the demons and to reveal the hardness of heart amongst the towns people.
He was showing the contrast of what the Kingdom of God values to what the kingdom of the world values.
First, the town's people naturally would have been quite upset that their "large herd" of pigs, most likely a significant portion of their economy, had just been eliminated.
Second, they were afraid of these two men, wanting nothing to do with them: "They were so violent that no one could pass that way." So naturally, the possibility of these men now living and dwelling with them was abhorrent and out of the question, despite the fact that they were now clean. (Isn't it characteristic of the human heart to disregard and reject what it once hated, even after it has been newly restored? Think of Jonah and the city of Nineveh)
The town is more distraught about the deceased pigs than excited about the restoration of the two men!
Do you see the sorry picture God is painting for us here? Pigs vs. Men! Not just any animal, but the lowest, most disgusting of all creatures wins out over the souls of two men in the perverse hearts of the town's people. They are blind to the fact that an amazing miracle of restoration occurred that day! There should have been shouts of joy and singing, welcoming what was lost back to life in community! Instead, "the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region" (italics added).
And so...With their minds on the welfare of their economy, instead of on the state of their own damned souls, they eagerly watched Jesus get back into the boat and leave from whence he came.
How tragic to eagerly bid adieu to the only One who offers true, abiding life. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34, NIV)
But, before judging them, I must take a look into my own heart. Would I still welcome Jesus, even after He has, at my own cost, restored someone, whom I have for a long time purposefully rejected? Am I concerned with souls? Or am I concerned with my economy, my comfort, my status...?
Do I treasure what is valued in the Kingdom of God or in the Kingdom of this world?
C.S. Lewis once said, "You do not have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body."
Lord, help me to seek Your Kingdom first; to value souls, lest I am blinded by my own insecurities and ignorantly bid adieu to Your eternal blessings!
Amen.
