Different Responses...Matthew 8:28-34


See the tree line in the distance.  Yup, I came from there to this point and beyond before heading back.  I spent a good hour on this rock field and that evening I realized I'm a 60 year old man.  It took a couple days for my legs to fuly recuperate from this excursion.  Being in the middle of this rock field that I would estimate at 100 acres makes you feel small and especially with the mountains towering over you.  I didn't make it to my destination on this day but maybe that was the point.

Jesus gets a different response in this passage and maybe that is the point.  What was probably expected by His disciples was the whole town giving Jesus the key to the city but what happened was a polite ask to leave the region.  They picked the pigs over the people and it was turned out to be a short stay on the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee.  "Back in the boat boys.  Our work here is done."  "But Jesus, we just got here.  Didn't those people just see what Jesus did?  This is not the usual response Jesus gets."

The problem is we don't see the whole picture as God does.  We only see what is on the surface or what is right in front of us.  God sees from the beginning to the end.  God sees how this seemingly rejection of Jesus by the whole Gentile town was part of the plan.  Did I need to see this?  Did I need to step back from what I see immediately and realize if I am being faithful to God that the story has not ended?  I just don't see all the parts as God does and I need to trust the One who saved my life.  I just need to keep faithful to the One who is supremely faithful in all situations.  I need to be patience to see His plan unfold.  Maybe I will see it in my lifetime or maybe I will not.  Do I trust and give Him the time to bring about the good I need?  

One last common thread for me going through these healings and miracles of Jesus is the offer of an obedience opportunity.  The leper was given the opportunity to be a witness to the priest who would verify that his leprous was gone.  The roman centurion was given the opportunity to go home at the word of Jesus that his servant would be healed.  Peter's mother-in-law rose in obedience to serve Jesus and His followers.  Now the demon possessed man who was no longer demon possessed was given the opportunity to go home and tell all what God had done for him.  Following through with obedience should be our natural response to being touched by Jesus, physically and spiritually.  

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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