Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.” vs. 35
Luke 8:35-39
The people had likely gotten used to the man during the time he was possessed by demons. People have a remarkable ability to adjust to the peculiarities of the people in their communities. But when the man was healed, when they observed him clothed and in his right mind, they were afraid. The difference in his appearance and behavior upset the equilibrium of their neighborhood. We have likely seen this happen too. Sometimes we just become accustomed to a person’s illnesses or addiction, and we assume that this is how they’re always going to be. But if there’s a big change, a miracle of some sort, and they exhibit different behavior, everything seems to change, e.g. an alcoholic who stops drinking will be like a new person, and sometimes sobriety brings a whole new set of issues. The same thing can happen when a person has a spiritual transformation and begins behaving in an entirely new way. Friends can be put off by the behavioral changes and may even wish they’d go back to their old unrepentant ways. But for the person from whom the demons have departed there’s no question of returning to the chains. Freedom in Christ is the greatest gift anyone can ever receive!
Thought for the Day: How can a good change be upsetting?
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