THE OTHER REACTION

While the formerly demon-possessed man was beginning a new and markedly different chapter of his life, the people from the nearby town were reacting in the opposite way. While the man had been set free, the large herd of pigs nearby had been suddenly possessed. “The herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned” (Luke 8:33).

The pig herders rushed to town to tell the story, and a delegation came to investigate. Despite seeing the evidence of the transformation of this locally notorious man, now dressed and in his right mind, they also had to consider the loss of their income and perhaps the anger of the wealthy farmers who owned so many animals.

Whether it was the economic threat or simply the strange phenomenon of the large herd of pigs hurling themselves into the lake, they understood that this was linked to the group of men from the other side of the lake. Responding to the people’s fear of what Jesus had done and what His power might mean, they asked Him to leave.

The disciples on the lake after the storm and the townspeople recognized an unfamiliar power—and both groups were afraid. For the disciples, it was a reason for wonder and for staying with Jesus. For the townspeople, it was fear of how else their lives might be disrupted, and they wanted Him gone. In both miracles, Jesus brought peace in place of fear, but the exercise of that kind of power gave rise to different kinds of fear.

The two groups of people chose to respond to fear differently.

How we respond to things that make us afraid—the things we don’t understand—matters.