Jesus came unto His own and they did not receive Him (John 1:11). It is a sad commentary on the first century world that men seeing the power of Christ and hearing His word failed to accept Him. The world indeed is without excuse when it comes to the issue of salvation through Jesus the Christ. Ignorance however, will save no one (Acts 17:30). We read about the growing hostility of the Pharisees and scribes toward Jesus. They had no means to argue against His miracles. They knew the people being healed were indeed sick of various diseases. They could attack His interpretation of the law and Him as well. They did so with great zeal that eventually led to Jesus dying on the cross.
John states that the things written down were enough to cause one of a reasonable mind to come to faith in Jesus as the Son of God (John 20:30,31). If one does not properly study and handled the Word of God then faith will not come (2 Tim. 2:15). It is obtaining the evidence from scripture and then making the proper application to what one has learned (Rom. 10:17). Some men may study but they do not understand nor comprehend what they have read (2 Cor. 4:3). The Word of God is lost on them.
Please allow me to take us back to the time of Matthew 8 beginning in verse 28. Jesus meets one who is possessed by a devil. The people of that village could not chain him nor even come to the place where he was because he was so fierce. The Bible speaks about a herd of swine that were a great way off (verse 30). The men who cared for the pigs would not dare come close to where the one possessed by a demon lived. It had to have an affect on the economics of the city. Water then was a precious commodity and for the pigs to be near there should be of interest to us. Water needed would have to be gotten from such a source.
Jesus confronts the demons and cast them out. They had asked His permission to leave the man and enter the pigs. Jesus granted them their request. Pigs run down a cliff into the water and are drown. Now the plots thickens. The men caring for the pigs go into the city and tell there what had happened. When the city turns out they find the man who had been healed. A man that had been such a threat now sits calmly by Jesus. A member of the community who had not helped nor blessed the city now is in a different frame of mind. Would not the city be so glad that this area once avoided could not be used?
The chapter closes with some very sad words. The whole city comes and asks or pleads with Jesus to leave their coasts. The meaning here is not just their city but they want Him to leave out of their area, completely. What is the justification for such an attitude? Jesus confronted demons and these people did not want that kind of battle taking place where they lived. They could have been thankful that the man was healed but in their mind a greater problem existed. As long as this man Jesus remained in the area other such battles may take place. They asked Him to leave.
Babylon conquered the city of Jerusalem and for the third and final time deported the population. Jews came back from other countries after the Babylonians left. The man left in charge was murdered and the people feared what might happen. They go and ask Jeremiah to ask God what they should do. Ten days later the answer came, do not go to Egypt. The response of the people was quick. No, we will go to Egypt where we will see war no more (Jer. 42:14).
They did not want war any more. It is the same with individuals today. They can turn on the television almost daily and get a dose of “everything will be fine”. It leads men in a spiritual context to avoid the battle thinking that quiet is a better path. The problem is that evil is never “quiet” but it always gets louder unless checked by those who love God through obedience. Too many today are saying to Jesus, “please leave”. Leave not just the area but leave us alone. May each of us learn the lesson. Endure hardness as good soldiers of the Lord (2 Tim. 2:3).