“Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region” (Matthew 8:34).
“Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus…”
So far so good.
“Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him…”
Yup. This is typically how things go. They see Jesus and ask him to heal the sick and cast out demons. This is when Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God to the gathered people.
“And when they saw him, THEY PLEADED WITH HIM TO LEAVE THEIR REGION!!!”
Say what?!?!?! What just happened? How could they ask Jesus to leave them? How could anyone not want to be with Jesus, hear his teaching, and receive healing from Jesus?
When you get a chance read Matthew 8:28-34 on your own.
Here’s the context of this verse. You see, Jesus was preaching around the towns in the Galilee region. In an area called the Gadarenes Jesus cast out demons from two demon-possessed men. The demons begged Jesus to be sent into the herd of pigs. And when the demons entered the pigs, they rushed into the water and drowned.
When the townspeople heard what Jesus did and what happened to their pigs, they begged Jesus to leave them because the cost of Jesus was more than they were willing to pay.
You see, there is a cost associated with following Jesus. The cost of following Jesus is sometimes too much for some.
What is the cost?
You may not be ready to hear the cost.
You really want to know?
ALL your life.
Not just parts. Not just Sundays. Not just a tithe. ALL.
Following Jesus costs ALL of you.
As it was with the people in the Gadarenes, some today find the cost of following Jesus to be too costly. Because they are unwilling to part with their existing hopes, dreams, treasures, life-styles, when Jesus starts meddling with our most treasured areas of our lives, some beg Jesus to leave them alone.
Little Church and Lakewoodgrace people!!! Wake up!!! May this never be us.
Jesus wants ALL of you, ALL of me. That’s what it means to follow Jesus.
Praxis: Faith in Action 