One particular miracle Jesus did creates comments and questions – the healing of the man among the tombs whose “demons” were sent into a herd of pigs which subsequently drowned. Consider the purpose of Jesus in the way this healing happened as there is a significant situation behind this event. The man had lived in the nearby town and owned a home there (Luke 8:39), so the people would have known him when he was well. They could see it was a miraculous healing, for they found him “sitting at the feet of Jesus and in his right mind” (verse 35). On other occasions of healing we read of many others coming for healing. But this time the people begged Jesus to go away (verse 37). Why? Because of the destruction of the pigs whose owners lived in the town.

The Law of Moses forbad eating pork. Isaiah condemns the Jews for this (65:4; 66:3,17). Yet there were Jews here who had a large herd; it was a good way of making money, even if the Gentiles were their only customers, which is doubtful! Perhaps the town, led by very angry pig owners, begged Jesus to go away. It is obvious where their priorities lay! WE must ask what counts most in our lives? Is it spiritual healing and eternal well-being?

Jesus had not finished with the people of this place. He told the man to stay and witness to his neighbours, testifying as to what had happened and that Jesus was “the Son of the Most High God” (verse 28). And he did; that cannot have been easy after they begged Jesus to go away!

What sort of healing is the best healing? It is a healing that still happens today, the healing of hearts – and a commitment to live God’s way! The witnessing of the healed man seems to have borne fruit for Jesus returned to this area (see Mark 6:53-56).