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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
directed them to pursue. They might also have plead that their long
isolation from society disqualified them for the task he had given them.
But instead of this, as soon as Jesus pointed out the path of duty,
they prepared to follow it. Not only did they enlighten their own
households and neighbors in regard to Jesus, but they proclaimed his
power to save throughout the region of Decapolis, among the Gentiles,
telling the wonderful work of Christ in casting out the demons. The
people of that region had refused to receive the Saviour because he
was the means of destroying their property, yet they were not left in
utter darkness; for they had not committed the sin of rejecting his
doctrine, since they had not heard it when they bade him leave their
coast. His words of life had not fallen upon their ears. Therefore he
commissioned those who were so recently the mediums of Satan to
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communicate the light they had received from him to those benighted
people. Those who had so lately been the representatives of the Prince
of Darkness were converted into channels of truth, servants of the Son
of God.
Men marveled as they listened to the wondrous news. They became
interested and anxious to have part in this kingdom of which Jesus
taught. Nothing could have awakened the people of this country so
thoroughly as did this occurrence happening in their midst. They
had only cared for the advantages of the world, and had thought little
of their eternal interests. Jesus cared much more for their real good
than they did themselves. He had permitted the devil’s request to be
granted, and the result was the destruction of their property. This loss
raised the indignation of the people, and brought Jesus directly before
the public notice. Although they entreated him to depart from them,
they nevertheless saw and heard the men whom he had healed. When
these persons, who had been the terror of the community, became the
messengers of truth and taught the salvation of Jesus, they wielded a
powerful influence to convince the people of that region that Jesus was
the Son of God.
They sent Jesus from their coast because they feared additional loss
of property, notwithstanding those who had crossed the lake with him
told them the peril of the previous night, and the miracle performed by
the Saviour in stilling the tempest. Their eyes, blinded by worldliness,
only saw the magnitude of their loss. They refused to consider the
advantage of having One among them who could control the very