Scripture
Matthew 8:32-34
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.
Observation
In this chapter, Jesus proves that He is God by demonstrating divine power over the physical realm as He heals many; over the natural realm as He calms a storm and over the spiritual realm as He drives out demons. Within these miraculous occurrences, the faith of a Roman centurion is exalted; a teacher of the law is challenged with the cost of following Jesus; and the priorities of the Gadarene pig herders is exposed.
Understanding
Apparently, the price of a herd of pigs is more valuable than a pair of men being freed from a lifetime of demonic oppression; as evidenced by the fact that, at the point where the Kingdom of God invaded the empire and commerce of man, the latter was exalted above the former and the Deliverer of divine presence and power was asked to leave, lest anyone else suffer loss of the thing that they cherished most – mammon. Jesus truly said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
This is a struggle for preeminence in the hearts of mankind that has, and will, continue from the dawn of mankind until Jesus returns. Even now, believers struggle with the cost of following Jesus and often reject the lordship of Jesus Christ in areas where we covet the dividends of disobedience. Jesus is well invited to our Sunday experience, but often asked to kindly leave our place of employment or recreation. At the point where honesty and integrity result in loss of benefit or promotion, many ask Jesus to please leave that arena and take that pesky ninth commandment with Him, if you please. Some cherish pornography over purity; while others value selfishness over sacrifice; sitting over serving and gain above giving. And, lest I self-righteously judge others, I admit that in these and other areas of my life, I struggle and choose unwisely. Far too often, my will and ego replace Jesus on the throne of my life and I banish Him to exile instead bowing and surrendering both of these as a grateful servant before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When Jesus included taking up our cross daily as a requirement to be His disciple, His audience immediately knew to what He was referring. To the Jew under Roman occupation, the cross meant one thing – death. Jesus used the vivid and cruel symbol of the cross to reveal that following Jesus meant death to self – death to cherished sins; death to compromise and rationalization; death to this world; and death to anything that is valued over the worship of obedience that exalts and glorifies God.
Life Application
Holy Spirit, I invite you to shine the spotlight in any area of my life to expose the herds of pigs, those unclean things, that I value over seeing the power of God manifested in healing and deliverance. Lord Jesus, I invite your presence and authority into every area of my life, no matter what the cost; and as one who, like Peter’s mother-in law, has received your healing touch, may my response be to rise up and serve you.
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-Gary Parker
