Cost of Following Jesus

“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.” – That’s good
“They saw him…” – So far, so good.
“Then they pleaded with him to leave them” – Say what?

Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone ask Jesus to leave? What’s that about?

What makes this even crazier is that this is right after Jesus cast out two demon-possessed men who had been violently terrorizing the people in the region of the Gadarenes. Jesus casting out demons from demon-possessed men who had been terrorizing people is a good thing, right? It’s good for the demon-possessed people and it’s good for the people who had been terrorized by them, right?

So, why would the people who had seen this miracle ask Jesus to leave?

Because the cost of freeing these two demon-possessed men was their livelihood. The demons went into the town’s pigs and the entire village’s herd drowned in the Sea of Galilee.

When following Jesus hurts, costs too much, when Jesus begins to meddle, when Jesus offends…people ask Jesus to leave, when Jesus impacts our pocketbooks and bank accounts.

We say we love Jesus, but take a look at your lives and see how many things distract you from fully following and obeying him. Are you doing what Jesus asks? Does it show in your life?

Consider the cost of following Jesus.