Luke 8:34-39 - Please go

8:34,35

Not surprisingly these events caused some consternation. Those looking after the pigs went to the town to tell people what had happened. The people then came to see. There is no record of what they saw of the pigs, presumably an absence of pigs. They did come to Jesus and they saw the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. This is what Jesus does for a person. He restores our dignity and soundness of mind, and we adopt an attitude of worship and obedience towards Jesus. This was such a dramatic change that the people were afraid.

8:36,37

Apparently there had been some who had seen all the events take place, and they told the others what had happened. The people then asked Jesus to leave. Why were they afraid? Maybe it was because they were afraid of losing money now the pig business had taken a severe downturn, or maybe it was just a fear of His power. Whatever the reason, we should note that it is not just the religious leaders who made the wrong response to Jesus, ordinary people are equally capable of making the wrong response. We see the same on the cross. One thief mocked Jesus, the other thief believed in Him. We sometimes have a tendency to eulogise the poor or to demonise the rich, both these reactions are wrong. All men and women are sinners, and all of us can be saved by the grace of God.

So Jesus left. In one sense these are very sad words, yet the people got what they asked for. People often ask “how can a God of love send people to hell”. On the day of judgement it will be more a matter of “why did we not respond when we had the chance”. May we learn our lesson today, before it is too late.

8:38,39

The now free man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away. So those who, unless they responded later, were on the road to destruction got what they wanted. The man who now loved Jesus did not get what he asked for. God gives us the best for us, which is not always the same as what we want. On several other occasions in the gospels we read of Jesus telling people to keep quiet about what He has done for them. Here is one of the rare occasions where Jesus tells the man to tell others what He has done for him. Why the difference? Maybe it was because this was a Gentile region, so there was less chance of people misunderstanding the Messiah concept. Moreover, as Jesus was leaving the area He would not be around.