Matthew 8:34
“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.”

When Jesus was about to cast demons out of two men, they begged him to be allowed to go into a herd of swine. Jesus told them, “Go.” The demons went in to the herd of swine which then “ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.” (Matthew 8:32) The swineherders ran to the city to tell everyone what had happened.

When the people see Jesus, we expect them to rejoice that he freed two men of demonic possession. We expect them to have hearts of gratitude and praise. Instead, they beg him to “depart out of their coasts.” Jesus may have given peace to two men, but all the people were concerned about is that their swine were dead. Their livelihood meant more to them than what Jesus offered.

Sadly, it’s the same with many people today. As long as Jesus gives them good things, people think he’s wonderful, but as soon as they find out that there’s a cost involved in following him, they don’t want anything to do with him. They want the Savior, but they don’t want to give up their sin. They want the King of kings, but they don’t want to lay down their own reputation. They want the Master, but they don’t want to become disciples.

Can’t they see that Jesus is worth far more than any cost we may have to pay? Why do they let swine keep them from the Savior? Oh, Christian, are we any wiser than this?

I pray that we let nothing keep us from the Savior. But so often we do. Like the disciples, we would often rather sleep than pray. We would often rather take up our potluck plate than take up the cross. We would often rather talk to people about the weather than tell them about the Creator of the universe.

Give all to Jesus. Don’t let the swine keep you from the Savior.