When Jesus visited the country of the Gerasenes, He met a man who was tormented by an unclean spirit that identified itself as “Legion; for we are many” (Mark 5:9). Jesus cast out the demons into a nearby herd of swine who then rushed into the sea and were drowned (Mark 5:11-13).
The herdsmen reported what happened to the people in the city. When they came out, they “began to [implore Jesus] to leave their region” (Mark 5:17).
It is amazing to think that anyone could see such evidence of the power of Jesus, and their immediate reaction is to want nothing more to do with Him. Yet the power of Jesus is proof of His authority. If the natural and spiritual world is subject to Him, then we must be as well.
The people in this area were keeping animals that the Law had designated as “unclean” (Leviticus 11:7-8). Who knows what else they might lose if Jesus stuck around? Unfortunately, many people today do the same thing as those residents. They refuse to welcome Jesus once they recognize His authority and what it implies. By doing this, they forfeit all the help He could provide them.
So let us not reject the Lord. He is able to provide spiritual healing to the sickness of sin. Yet we must be willing to submit to His authority and give up anything in our lives that is contrary to His will.