Matthew 8:28 – When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 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. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (NIV)

While the gospel writer doesn’t mention it, I’m sure it must have been a dark and stormy night, or at least a heavy fog laid over the graveyard! We have some real drama in this passage, so let’s dive into it.  We have demon possessed men coming out from the tombs.  This sets up a battle between evil and good.  Jews would never hang around a graveyard.  The dead, and the graves that held them, were unclean.  Right from the start we have some unclean and possessed people confronting Jesus.

Next, there was a large herd of pigs – more uncleanliness for the Jews.  The demons immediately recognize the power of Jesus.  They recognize his ultimate authority.  Knowing that they stand no chance against the power of God, they ask Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs, which Jesus does.  The pigs then run off a cliff and drown in the water.  Everything that was evil in this passage is destroyed by just a word from Jesus. 

This story tells us two important things.  First, we learn that no one needs to remain under the power of evil.  With just a word, Jesus can send anything and everything that is evil running!  We live our lives battling sin, and the power to overcome is not within us.  Jesus, however, has that power, and Jesus is quick to share that power with us.  We need only seek Jesus.   

Secondly, let us note that the entire town went out to meet Jesus, pleading with him to leave.  Yes, their livelihood was destroyed, but that is not the point for us.  The point for us is that there will be opposition to the things of God.  If we think that we can live for Jesus without opposition, we are mistaken!  We will be opposed by evil when we stand for Jesus.  We must be always ready to call on Jesus to help us in our weakness.

Today, let us seek from Jesus the power to overcome sin.  Then, let us seek even more of Jesus when evil stands in our way. 

Posted by Ramón Torres