Matthew 8:28-29
When he had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
According to the law of Moses, it was illegal in the State of Israel for the production of swine. But the herdsmen of the Gadarenes obviously were operating a clandestine business. No doubt this entire industry was created and governed by demonic forces and the men they influenced. And it's interesting to note that after Jesus exorcised the demons from the men and caused them to go into the pigs, which then caused the herd to be destroyed, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave their lands. The whole city came out and said leave...please leave.
Did they receive him?
No.
Did they come to hear his good news?
No.
They wanted nothing to do with the man who killed their industry.
So, Jesus gets in a boat and leaves them to their corrupt masters.
Later on,
Matthew 9:2-3
"Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”
Jesus questions the teachers of the law, and note the sarcasm is not lost on me...
“Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?" (v. 4-5)
So, Jesus proves his authority over sin and his divine power over human suffering. He refers to this power as the authority to forgive sins.
Now when you think about exhibitions of power. And you see a paralyzed man healed and able to get up and walk, do you think to yourself, or shout out loud, "look! His sins are forgiven!"?
No of course not. Because we are living in an Age of Enlightenment. We don't believe that physical afflictions are the product of sin. We don't ascribe, as the doctors of the law did, spiritual sickness to physical suffering. We don't believe people who are physically disabled are being punished for their sins, or their father's sins. We don't believe in demonic possessions. We believe psychotic behavior; cutting, dysphoria, depression, and anxiety are nothing more than mental illness. These things are just likely an imbalance of emotional stressors and damaged neural pathways.
Jesus believed differently. And he acted differently than we would when he was encountering these things. And the people who watched him holistically resolve these spiritual-physical problems, feared him, each in their own ways. Some feared as one fears God, with awe and wonder. Some feared for their lives and their livelihoods. His followers were amazed, excited, and encouraged. The herdsmen feared for their business, as did the doctors of the law whose authority was being challenged by Jesus.
What's really going on here is an exhibition of the comprehensive nature of Jesus' authority over, earth and nature, the affairs of human nature, and the nature of the spiritual realms. Yet Jesus wants the people to know one thing in particular. He wants the people to know that he has the power to forgive sins.
He's pulling off incredible acts of power. He's chasing off demons. He's raising the dead. He's speaking with great wisdom and authority. Quite frankly...he's amazing!
But he wants us to take away the knowledge that he has the power to forgive sins. You'd almost get the idea that he's trying to tell us something.
Jesus had a way of doing this. He'd blow people's minds with his miraculous deeds and then turn the conversation into a moment of human conversion to the things of heaven. It always comes back to the renewing of their minds. Miracle after miracle, and every time it's about getting your mind right with God.
All these things Jesus did to get people to understand that this life is about getting us ready to fight the unseen demonic world that is working endlessly to prevent us all from finding friendship with God. That's why the miracles are about forgiveness of sin. That's why Jesus isn't calling down fire from the sky and miraculously dissolving his enemies. He's here to testify to the truth, not cure all the sins of mankind. He's here to FORGIVE THEM!
He let the people of the Gadarenes continue in their illegal pig farming. And he walked away.
He lets the unbelievers go their own way.
He rebukes the doctors of the law and leaves them in their shadows of the truth.
He prays for them all, and leaves.
In the face of human weakness and hopelessness, Jesus shows that he is able to forgive the sins of mankind and save those who believe in his power. Many see, many hear, few understand and believe. The true miracle is seen in those who hear his words and obey.
Matthew 4:16
“The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,
And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,
Upon them a Light dawned.”
John 3:19
"And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."
#ForgivenessOfSin #Light #Dark #Shadows