It's a strange story, this...
Illustration
It's a strange story, this healing of the demon-possessed man in the country of the
Gerasenes. There is the man's wild behavior; the voice of not one, but a legion of demons
speaking through him; the herd of possessed pigs rushing over the cliff. But of all the
unusual elements in the story, the strangest yet is something very simple and very human:
the reaction of the townspeople.
They had heard tell of a healer so powerful he could send 2,000 demons into a herd of pigs, and run them off a cliff. And so they went to see this wonder-worker. Yet, when they saw their local madman who was now healed, they were afraid.
They were afraid of a sane man. He'd given them plenty of reason to fear before -- to fear his uncontrollable behavior, to fear for the safety of their children, to fear that they, too, might one day go mad. But now, clothed and in his right mind, he was a more fearful figure yet. He had gone sane.
Such is often the way, with those who suddenly decide to leave their old, sinful life behind and live the life of faith.
They had heard tell of a healer so powerful he could send 2,000 demons into a herd of pigs, and run them off a cliff. And so they went to see this wonder-worker. Yet, when they saw their local madman who was now healed, they were afraid.
They were afraid of a sane man. He'd given them plenty of reason to fear before -- to fear his uncontrollable behavior, to fear for the safety of their children, to fear that they, too, might one day go mad. But now, clothed and in his right mind, he was a more fearful figure yet. He had gone sane.
Such is often the way, with those who suddenly decide to leave their old, sinful life behind and live the life of faith.
