Matthew 8:23-34
Be Still: Jesus, as I read today, open my heart to see what you’re doing in my life. Amen
Read: Matthew 8:23-34
He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (vv32-34)
Encounter: Drama! Jesus shows up, frees two men who’d been living in torment, and suddenly a whole herd of pigs goes running into the lake and drowns. If you’ve followed the past few days, we began with a single healing - the leper, one man, a quick healing. We then met the Centurion and his servant: this time Jesus healed at a distance and in response to remarkable faith. And we end with Jesus releasing two men from demonic slavery. We’ve seen over these encounters that Jesus has authority to teach, has authority over disease both close by and distant; over the lives of people who want to follow him; over the winds and waves on the lake and over the shadowy forces of evil. The people, hearing about the latest healing, come out to see – and instead of celebrating the miracle, they ask Jesus to leave. Why? Because what he did messed with their sense of 'normal'. The pigs represented money, livelihood, stability. Jesus brought freedom, but it came with a cost they weren’t ready for.
Apply: Sometimes, Jesus does that with us. He steps into our lives, points to something that needs to change, and it shakes us up. Maybe it’s a habit, a relationship, a comfort zone, or even a dream. We love the idea of his peace and presence – but we don’t always love the disruption that comes with transformation.
What we need to hear today is that Jesus has authority over everything that the physical and non-physical world can throw at us. We can trust this Jesus with every aspect of our lives. With that in mind, take a moment today to ask, ‘Where might Jesus be asking me to let go of something so he can bring freedom?’ It could be something small – but it could change everything.
Devote: Jesus, sometimes you shake up my life in ways I don’t expect. Help me not to push you away when things feel uncomfortable. Give me courage to trust that your changes always lead to freedom.