We tack silly cartoons to our office wall. Here’s a recent one we enjoyed:
Poor pig.
The cartoon is referring to the episode in Mark 5:1-20 in which Jesus visited the land of the Gerasenes and met a man who was demon possessed. Long story short, Jesus cast out the demons who then entered a herd of about two thousand pigs and drove them into the sea where they drowned.
The Gerasenes were not pleased.
Think about it from their perspective: they just lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of livestock. And for what?
Yes, they were amazed that the man was finally healed, but Jesus threatened their livelihood, so they asked Him to leave (v 17). Jesus thought the trade-off—one restored human life for a herd of pigs—was worth it. The Gerasenes…not so much.
There are many lessons to learn from that passage, but the question that comes to my mind is: What is a human life worth to God?
Jesus once said, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt 6:26).
Yes, you are. You’re valuable to God. More valuable than the birds and even more than a herd of pigs!
Tim Amoroso
Ha ha. Funny cartoon. Loved it.
Jesus said, “He who believes in me has everlasting life.” I know I have everlasting life right now, because I believed in Jesus for it. All who have it, can enter into the kingdom of God. So, I can enter into His heaven. That is my assurance of salvation. God bless.
KEN TAMASHIRO
Thanks, Pastor Shawn
I had to re-read that account again to understand the circumstances and purposes of Jesus and the demon-possessed man.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in [e]Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Leo Z
Amen Pastor Shawn! Undeserving, yet valued and loved so much that God gave His Son, who came willingly to purchase this world from the marketplace of sin, by the shedding of His blood, so He can offer us eternal life as a FREE gift. And that free (NO COST!) gift offer stands, for everyone to receive. For whosoever wants it, the only thing they have to do is believe, believe in His Son for the gift and it will be will be granted to him for time and eternity. How marvelous is that?
1 John 3:1a….
Thank you for this blog piece Pastor Shawn. Short, but powerful. Praying for you and GES!
Alvin
Question this Gentile is told to go tell all his friends, where as the Jews are told over and over not to tell anyone as the verses below mention, why~? I believe Matthew 12:16-21 tells us. God knows the Jews are going to reject Jesus as their Messiah. But, this is going to make possible MERCY for the Gentiles a wild olive tree, they will become partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree. But, they will finally be broken off, because the Jews will be grafted back in to their olive tree. All Israel will be saved, and they will carry the message once again to the world during the tribulation. (Romans 11:11-33 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have MERCY on all. How great is our Great God and His mercy~!
See that you tell no one.
Matt 8:4;9:30;12:16-21 that it might be fulfilled concerning Gentiles. And in His name Gentiles will trust. Mark 1:43-44; 3:12; 5:43;7:36;8:26;8:30; Luke 8:56;
Canaanite Woman is not told to not tell anyone Mark 5:19;Matt 15:22-28;Luke 8:39;17:16 Ten Leper’s one that returned and glorified God was a Samaritan.