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58
The Ministry of Health and Healing
Meanwhile the demons, cast out from their human habitations,
have entered into a herd of swine and driven them to destruction by
drowning. The keepers of the swine hurry away to spread the news,
and the whole population flock to meet Jesus. The two demoniacs
have been the terror of the country. Now they are clothed and in their
right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words and
glorifying the name of Him who has made them whole. But those
who witness this wonderful scene do not rejoice. The loss of the
swine seems to them of greater importance than the deliverance of
these captives of Satan. In terror they throng about Jesus, pleading
with Him to leave. And He complies, taking ship at once for the
opposite shore.
Far different is the feeling of the restored demoniacs. They want
to be with their Deliverer. In His presence they feel secure from the
demons that have tormented their lives and wasted their manhood.
As Jesus is about to enter the boat, they keep close to His side, kneel
at His feet, and beg Him to remain near them so they may listen to
His words. But Jesus bids them go home and tell what great things
the Lord has done for them.
Here is a work for them to do—to go to a heathen home and tell
of the blessings they have received from Jesus. It is hard for them
to be separated from the Savior. Great difficulties will face them
as they associate with their heathen countrymen. And their long
isolation from society seems to have disqualified them for this work.
But as soon as Jesus points out their duty, they are ready to obey.
Not only did they tell their own households and neighbors about
Jesus, they went throughout Decapolis, everywhere declaring His
power to save and describing how He had freed them from the
demons.
Though the people of Gergesa had not received Jesus, He did not
abandon them to the darkness they had chosen. When they asked
Him to leave, they had not heard His words. They did not know
what they were rejecting. Therefore He sent the light to them by
those to whom they would not refuse to listen.
In causing the destruction of the swine, it was Satan’s purpose to
turn the people away from the Savior and prevent the preaching of
the gospel in that region. But this very occurrence roused the country
as nothing else could have done, and directed attention to Christ.