“It’s ironic, isn’t it? This guy was involved in a dog fighting practice that killed innocent animals. He served two years in prison, while people who commit child abuse or murder another human being get out of serving jail time all together on technicalities,” my dad commented last night as we watched a news story about NFL player Michael Vick.
I remembered that discussion today as I read this passage…because I saw something I’d never noticed before. There’s a story at the end of chapter eight where Jesus heals two crazy men from demons that plague them.
These men terrorized a town. They made people feel so unsafe that most avoided crossing the road they frequented. When Jesus approached, the evil spirits knew who He is. The evil spirits knew He was going to free the men from their grip—the evil spirits didn't even plead with Him to stop it. Instead, they asked to live in a herd of pigs. Jesus granted their request and the pigs became so crazed, they bolted off a cliff and drowned.
Here’s the part I never noticed before:
Scared to death, the swineherds bolted.
They told everyone
back in town what had happened
to the madmen and the pigs.
Those who heard about it were angry
about the drowned pigs.
A mob formed
and demanded
that Jesus get out
and not come back.
You read that right—two crazy guys were completely healed, transformed from madmen to miracles—and people in the town were mad…because a herd of pigs drowned.
We don’t hear about anyone in the streets celebrating the two men and welcoming them back. No one thanked Jesus for changing the lives of two crazy guys who terrorized them and their children.
On the contrary, these people were outraged. They were so furious with Jesus, they kicked him out of town and told Him never to return. They treated a hero and healer in the same way they treated crazy people.
Why?
I don’t think it’s because the townspeople were animal rights activists. I’m guessing it’s because the herd of pigs represented a LOT of money to someone or to the town. And the people didn’t exactly love the two madmen who terrified their city. To them, the lives of the pigs were more important than the lives of two people.
They were furious with Jesus. But I’m willing to bet that He wasn’t very pleased with them either.
At first glance, the attitudes of these people seem absolutely ridiculous. But how many of us prioritize the “pigs” in our lives over people? How many times have we thought, “You know…I could help that person, but it just takes too much time”? Or “I could do something to help those people…but it just costs too much money”?
Meet Tony: A guy with people perspective
It’s interesting I read this passage this morning because this afternoon, I went to the funeral of a great family friend. Tony Feist is a man who is a legend to my family and to many others. And more than anything, I think it’s because he always put people over “pigs” in life.
If you looked at Tony’s life without knowing him, you might think he was a simple guy. He had a wife and two kids. He served in the military and worked at Boeing before retiring. No schools or statues bear his name.
Over 30 years ago, Tony invited a 21-year old guy named Joe to a baseball game and to dinner. Tony’s wife Linda worked with Joe’s wife and they were friends. Tony didn’t know Joe well, but he knew that Joe didn’t have a job. At dinner, Tony prayed that his new friend would find a job the very next day. At 6:00 AM the next morning, Joe got a phone call from a manager (who didn’t know Tony at all, by the way) at a local company—a manager who told him about a job opportunity. Joe landed that job. But more importantly, through Tony’s friendship, example, and bold faith, Joe learned about Jesus.
Joe is my dad—because of Tony and his wife, my parents became people who follow Christ. I don’t know what my life or family would look like if Tony and Linda hadn’t taken the time to invest in my parents—through simple things like baseball games and dinner.
What if they would have been people who said “It costs too much…” or “We’re just too busy”?
Tomorrow: Matthew 9-10
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