When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
The keepers had watched Jesus free two terrorizing demoniacs from Satan's control by permitting the demons to enter a herd of swine that rushed down and drowned, and they fled to publish what had happened to their employers and to the people in the city and surrounding country. They had witnessed both sides of the work, the destruction of the herd and the complete healing of the men whose minds were enlightened and whose faces became mild in praise to God. Their report roused the country as nothing else could have done and brought Jesus to public notice, so that the whole population flocked to meet Him. Yet when the people saw the restored men and heard them proclaim His saving power, concern for property outweighed mercy, and in selfish fear of further loss they blamed Jesus and asked Him to leave, rejecting His visit without understanding it. What was meant to hinder His work was overruled to open the way for the gospel, for though Jesus departed the healed men remained as witnesses throughout Decapolis, carrying to their homes and neighbors who had rejected Him the news of His power to save.
The Miracle and Report
This is the deliverance of the demoniacs of Gadara, where two men were freed from Satan's bondage and demonic control. The demons entered a herd of swine, and the herd rushed down a steep slope and drowned. The two men thus delivered had previously been the terror of the country.
Those who fed the swine witnessed both sides of what was done, the destruction of the herd and the healing and deliverance of the men. They saw the result of the deliverance worked for the demoniacs. At their sudden restoration the men's minds were enlightened, their faces became mild, and they praised God.
The keepers fled and hurried away to spread and publish the news of what had happened. They reported it to their employers and to the people. They told it in the city and in the surrounding country and through the countryside.
Rejection Turned to Witness
The keepers' flight to publish what had been done brought Jesus to public notice and drew attention to Him throughout the region, rousing the country as nothing else could have done and causing the whole population to flock together to meet Him. The report spread through the city and the surrounding countryside, and it was the loss of the herd that forced Him upon public attention.
When the people came they saw with their own eyes both the restored men and the destruction of the swine, and they heard the healed men proclaiming His power and salvation. Yet concern for property outweighed the healing and safety of the two men, for the owners felt the loss of the animals more than the deliverance of men who had been the terror of the country. Selfish fear of further financial loss kept them from hearing His words.
They blamed Jesus for the loss, valuing their property above His mercy and presence. So they asked Him to leave, thereby rejecting His visit of mercy without understanding what they were rejecting. What had been meant to turn people away from Him and to hinder His work was overruled for good, and instead prepared the way for the gospel and opened the way for it, even though Jesus departed.
Although Jesus left, the healed men remained as witnesses and carried the good news of His saving power to others. They went to their homes and neighbors and throughout Decapolis telling how Jesus had freed them from demons and had power to save, bringing the message to the very people who had rejected Him. They obeyed despite the difficulty of returning to society and being separated from Jesus.
The keepers had watched Jesus free two terrorizing demoniacs from Satan's control by permitting the demons to enter a herd of swine that rushed down and drowned, and they fled to publish what had happened to their employers and to the people in the city and surrounding country. They had witnessed both sides of the work, the destruction of the herd and the complete healing of the men whose minds were enlightened and whose faces became mild in praise to God. Their report roused the country as nothing else could have done and brought Jesus to public notice, so that the whole population flocked to meet Him. Yet when the people saw the restored men and heard them proclaim His saving power, concern for property outweighed mercy, and in selfish fear of further loss they blamed Jesus and asked Him to leave, rejecting His visit without understanding it. What was meant to hinder His work was overruled to open the way for the gospel, for though Jesus departed the healed men remained as witnesses throughout Decapolis, carrying to their homes and neighbors who had rejected Him the news of His power to save.
The Miracle and Report
This is the deliverance of the demoniacs of Gadara, where two men were freed from Satan's bondage and demonic control. The demons entered a herd of swine, and the herd rushed down a steep slope and drowned. The two men thus delivered had previously been the terror of the country.
Those who fed the swine witnessed both sides of what was done, the destruction of the herd and the healing and deliverance of the men. They saw the result of the deliverance worked for the demoniacs. At their sudden restoration the men's minds were enlightened, their faces became mild, and they praised God.
The keepers fled and hurried away to spread and publish the news of what had happened. They reported it to their employers and to the people. They told it in the city and in the surrounding country and through the countryside.
Rejection Turned to Witness
The keepers' flight to publish what had been done brought Jesus to public notice and drew attention to Him throughout the region, rousing the country as nothing else could have done and causing the whole population to flock together to meet Him. The report spread through the city and the surrounding countryside, and it was the loss of the herd that forced Him upon public attention.
When the people came they saw with their own eyes both the restored men and the destruction of the swine, and they heard the healed men proclaiming His power and salvation. Yet concern for property outweighed the healing and safety of the two men, for the owners felt the loss of the animals more than the deliverance of men who had been the terror of the country. Selfish fear of further financial loss kept them from hearing His words.
They blamed Jesus for the loss, valuing their property above His mercy and presence. So they asked Him to leave, thereby rejecting His visit of mercy without understanding what they were rejecting. What had been meant to turn people away from Him and to hinder His work was overruled for good, and instead prepared the way for the gospel and opened the way for it, even though Jesus departed.
Although Jesus left, the healed men remained as witnesses and carried the good news of His saving power to others. They went to their homes and neighbors and throughout Decapolis telling how Jesus had freed them from demons and had power to save, bringing the message to the very people who had rejected Him. They obeyed despite the difficulty of returning to society and being separated from Jesus.