I’ll Witness When Pigs Fly

We live in a country where demon possession is more often a topic in science fiction than a conversation in the church. Yet the Gospels are filled with stories of demons. In today’s reading the demons number a legion, which in Jesus’ day could number up to 5,000. What is very clear about this man is that he had no control over his own actions, and no one could control him either. So, he was an outcast, sent away to live amongst the tombs, a place where no one wanted to go.

Jesus enters his life and the impossible happens; he is healed and the demons drown along with the pigs. Now everyone can live happily ever after-except for the surrounding city and country. Those people are scared! And not because their pigs drowned, but because Jesus had more power than the demons who controlled the man. Their lives have been turned upside down; nothing is the way it was a day ago.

But the story does not end there. Jesus sends the man back into his community, where he tells anyone who will listen what happened to him; “And everyone was amazed.” (verse 20) God similarly transforms us into evangelists in our own communities.

Encouraging God, continue to use us to spread your word. Amen. — VSR

Contributed by I’ll Witness When Pigs Fly

We live in a country where demon possession is more often a topic in science fiction than a conversation in the church. Yet the Gospels are filled with stories of demons. In today's reading the demons number a legion, which in Jesus' day could number up to 5,000. What is very clear about this man is that he had no control over his own actions, and no one could control him either. So, he was an outcast, sent away to live amongst the tombs, a place where no one wanted to go. Jesus enters his life and the impossible happens; he is healed and the demons drown along with the pigs. Now everyone can live happily ever after-except for the surrounding city and country. Those people are scared! And not because their pigs drowned, but because Jesus had more power than the demons who controlled the man. Their lives have been turned upside down; nothing is the way it was a day ago. But the story does not end there. Jesus sends the man back into his community, where he tells anyone who will listen what happened to him; "And everyone was amazed." (verse 20) God similarly transforms us into evangelists in our own communities.
Eternity for Today