The Deliverer
Mark 5:11-15 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
WHAT DO you think? Is it better to restore one man’s life—or save the swine?
Legion—the demons—plea with Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." Why? They want to destroy the swine. They want to turn the people against Jesus as they accuse, “He killed the swine!”
What are Jesus’ purposes here? One, he wants to save the man, to deliver him from evil. Two, he wants to test these Gentiles. What will they consider good? What will be their reaction to the One who delivers them from evil?
As you see, they were afraid. Jesus had saved a man, but the swine died. That’s lost income for some. Even though Legion had mocked and harassed them through the man, they were more afraid they had lost their livelihood. They were afraid the One who had delivered them from evil could not give them that day their daily “bread” – a new way of life.
They preferred the swine over the salvation.
Pause and consider: what evil rules your life? Do you trust Jesus to deliver you?
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