April 1, 2007 - What is the difference?

April 1, 2007

Two different groups, separated by a lake with two different reactions to Jesus

Luke 8

37 Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off.

From yesterday we learned this group had lost a group of pigs. They also had gotten a sane man in place of their demonic person. And what did they do? They told Jesus to leave!

40 On his return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there expecting him.

41 A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his home

This group welcomed Him; He even had the head of the synagogue come to him to ask a favor.

What is the difference between the two? Why was one group sacred and the other worshiped him? He had done miracles on both sides of the lake.

My only thought here, and I welcome opposing views, is that one group wanted a messiah to come and believed it. The other did not know what to believe. They were raising pigs, some thing that no believing Jew would do. They must not have believed a savior was coming and when Jesus came and did his healing of the man, it scared them.

What group would you like to be in?

Scripture quotes from the Message Bible.