Matthew continued his gospel with these words concerning Jesus, “when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Are you come here to torment us before the time?And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding, So the devils besought him, saying, If you cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-four of his book, Matthew shared how, “the whole city came out to meet Jesus” where we read:
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him,
they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
The verse reads, “And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: ” Matthew began with the words, “and behold” or “and lo and see”, “the whole city” which means “each, every, all and everyone within the abode, dwelling place and habitation” “came out” or “arose and went forth” “to meet Jesus” which means “to have a meeting with Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. Matthew shared how all the people within the entire city arose and went to have a meeting with Jesus.
The verse continues, “and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.” Matthew added the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “they saw him” which means “the people of the city perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered Jesus”, “they besought him” which means “the people entreated, encouraged and begged” “that he would depart out of” or “that Jesus would leave and remove himself from” “their coasts” which refers to “the people's boundaries, region, district, land and territory”. After the people of the “city” saw Jesus, they begged Him to “leave” their territory.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we may marvel at the decision of these people. They knew the two men possessed by demons were now set free, but because their “economy” of “hogs” were slaughtered, they wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Jesus reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit today, and because of loss or the threat of loss of their current situations, many people want nothing to do with Him. God desires a relationship with every person, and there is a cost for submitting one's life to His Son Jesus, however, the promised “everlasting life” and the eternal benefits heavily outweigh any cost that is associated with this life. Let all who read these words examine themselves and determine whether they are “begging” Jesus to leave their “coasts”, and if so, may they reconsider their decision today.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see how Jesus, “entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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