And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
It was obvious to all present at this place called Gerasene that one person – on earth – had authority over all uncleanness and evil. And had the authority to specify exactly would become of each part of that multitude of uncleanness and evil.
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
Oh, dear! Not our pigs. Not the main source of our wealth. Don’t send these unclean and evil intangibles within people into anything which would affect our successful economy and the consequent States revenues!
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
The demons have gone out of this human being. But the price was too high. A decision was taken by those who were not present when the man was saved that Jesus must go. Today in Jersey, some would agree with them. Don’t be stupid. We’ve got to do what’s good for the whole island, not just for one human being.
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