Daily Devotional
"And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters."
Matthew 8:32
The demons change their tone. First they tried to push Jesus away; now they are begging. “If you cast us out” carries the sense of “when you cast us out.” They know they have already lost, so they bargain for a herd of pigs. Even that request reveals who is in charge. They cannot go anywhere without his permission.
Then Jesus speaks. One word: “Go.” That is the entire exorcism. It is the only word Jesus speaks in the whole passage. Ancient exorcists used long incantations, elaborate rituals, foul-smelling smoke, and the search for the demon’s name. Jesus needs none of it. Last week the wind and the sea obeyed him. This week hell obeys him. The authority that calmed the storm is the same authority that empties the graveyard.
What about the pigs? We will not know every reason Jesus did what he did, and part of mature faith is being content with some mystery on this side of heaven. But the text does show us three things. First, the pigs were visible proof that the demons were really gone; the two men could see their freedom with their own eyes. Second, the pigs revealed what evil is really like. The demons got exactly what they asked for and immediately destroyed it. Evil is not only dangerous; it is foolish. It ruins even what it craves.
Third, the pigs show what Jesus values. Two human beings made in the image of God were worth more to him than an entire herd of livestock. People are worth more than things. That is a lesson many of us still need to learn, whether it shows up in a reluctance to open our homes for fear of spills and stains, or in a quiet willingness to sacrifice people for profit or convenience.
Today's Challenge
What evil, habit, or fear in your life feels too strong to be broken? What would it mean to believe that one word from Jesus is enough? Where are you valuing things above people? Think of a specific possession, schedule, or comfort you have protected at someone else's expense.
Prayer
Lord, you speak and the storm is still. You speak and the demons flee. Forgive me for acting as though my chains are stronger than your word. Thank you that you value people, that you valued me, more than anything this world can offer. Teach me to see people the way you see them and to hold my possessions loosely. In Jesus' name, Amen.
