And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Asking Jesus to leave is an interesting response to the deliverance of two dangerous, life-threatening men who altered the rhythm of life for an entire town. Why would they not welcome Jesus to do more to improve their town via freedom and healing?
When freedom came, it came at a cost. The cost was a heard of pigs. We don’t have the reason for the request of the demons to go into the pigs once kicked out of the two men. Perhaps unclean spirits felt it fitting to go into pigs as pigs were deemed unclean in the time of Jesus. We also do not have context as to why Jesus granted it. Regardless, the fulfillment of the demon’s request resulted in the death of the pigs.*
It seems that the people of the town valued the material possession of the pigs and their ability to provide financially than they did the freedom of these two men and the safety that deliverance lent. It also seems that Jesus valued the men more than those things the town valued.* HIs value was on people, their value was on gain.
What area of our lives might we need freedom? What do we value more than this freedom? Does material gain or something that we have placed worth on prevent us from welcoming Jesus into our lives to do His work? What might freedom from fear, insecurity, or anger cost? What might it cost us to be delivered from a spirit of lust or spirit of manipulation or spirit of lying?
Deliverance from lust might cost you your pride as you share with a trusted believer. Freedom from lying might cost you a business deal as you choose not to bend reality to your favor. Deliverance from anger might cost you the comfort that comes from ignoring your past. Freedom from fear might cost you the perceived safety of the walls that you have built around your heart.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to choose to value the freedom He offers above all that you hold dear. Perhaps today God wants you to accept His freedom knowing that the benefit is eternal and the cost is temporary. Maybe God wants to rewrite your understanding of what matters.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 207–212, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 8:28–34) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).