Luke 8:33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
This has the feeling of a spectacle to me. Jesus drove the demons out of the man into the pigs. The demons drove the pigs over the cliff. The men tending the pigs ran to town to report the spectacle. Everyone rushed back to see what they could see.
Luke 8:34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,
When they all come to the spot, they see the once-demon-possessed man, now demon free, dressed, and in his right might. And how did they react? “…they were afraid.” Now they are afraid? Truly, I am baffled. This demon-possessed man has been in their midst for a long time, and now, NOW that he is demon-free and in his right mind, now that Jesus drove the demon off, NOW they are afraid?!?
Luke 8:35a …and the people went out to see what had happened.
Precious Savior, I know that I am just as guilty as the people in today’s scripture of being afraid of the wrong thing, of accepting as “normal” the wrong thing, of showing up to gawk and tongue-wag, and grumble about The. Wrong. Thing. Forgive me. Help me. Amen.
Luke 8:35b When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Have a blessed day.