I’ve been reading through Matthew lately and this morning I began with chapter 8. As I was reading I began to think about what I was reading and why it was included in Matthew’s Gospel. Often times I believe I just assume that what is written in the Gospels is just a chronological account of what happened to Jesus, like a secretary recording all that is happening in a meeting. But in reality, Matthew is choosing what to include and where to include it.
I began to think all this when I was reading chapter 8 verses 28 – 34, the story of Jesus restoring the two demon possessed men. This is the story where Jesus casts out these demons into the large herd of pigs, who then rush in to the lake and kill themselves. While I was reading this I was trying to see the meaning of why Matthew would include this in his story of Jesus. Out of all the healings and times he casts out demons, he chose to go in depth and include this one.
At the end of the story Matthew tells that once the pig herders see this they run into town to share the news. Instead of everyone running to the farm to congratulate and thank Jesus for saving the lives of these two men, they plead with him to leave. For some reason, by Jesus doing this it inspires them to ask Jesus to leave. Why? Could it be they were angry about losing the herd of pigs, could it be they were just frightened that this happened, or was there another reason?
I believe they were afraid of what Jesus being there would do to their lives. They were afraid of the change and discomfort that he would cause. Maybe they had felt comfort in the way their lives were going and were alright with their two demon possessed men in town, they didn’t want that to change. But with Jesus comes change. There is no way to dispute that or to go around that.
I feel that I do this sometimes. That there are times where I ask Jesus to leave. I slip into a state of comfort where I enjoy where I am and enjoy knowing where I am going, however, following Jesus does not line up with this. I have found that in my life when I am most intimate with Christ, I am most uncomfortable. I have a peace with Christ and an assurance that I am where I need to be, but there is this underlying sense of unease in knowing that I don’t know what is going to happen next or how things will turn out.
Intimacy with Christ inspires change in us. The people in the region of Gadarenes didn’t want this change so they told Jesus to leave. Matthew knew this change, he was a disciple, an intimate follower of Christ. I simply cannot be an intimate follower of Christ if I am telling Jesus to leave.
