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"Begging Jesus To Depart"

Jarrod Jacobs

What a sad account! In Matthew 8:28-34, Jesus performed a miracle, and cast demons out of some men, sending the devils into the swine herd. Yet, when the townspeople learned of the casting out of the devils into the swine, they begged Christ to leave their coasts (Also: Mk. 5:1-19; Lk. 8:26-39). Unfortunately, the Jewish world at large rejected Christ in His day. Many times they accepted the evidence (in His miracles), but rejected the conclusion that He was the Christ (Jn. 11:45-48; Jn. 1:11, etc.). Today it is no different. All have the choice to either accept or reject Christ's word, just like in New Testament days. Unfortunately, many today beg Jesus to leave them. Why would people beg Jesus to depart? Some people beg Jesus to depart because.....

They Realize Their Own Sinfulness.

It goes without saying that all men have sinned in God's sight (Rom. 3:23). However, some feel so guilty about what they have done that they want Christ to leave them, feeling that they could never be forgiven. There is no denying that man has sinned in God's sight, and is not worthy of the things God does for us (especially salvation from sins!). However, since God has offered salvation to all men, we are responsible for ACCEPTING the invitation, NOT begging Christ to depart! Consider all the times the Bible talks about man needing to come to Christ to be saved (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38, 42, 47; Rev. 22:17; etc.). When we see we are in sin and separated from God, the thing to do is to turn to Him in repentance, be baptized for the remission of sins, and live for Him for the rest of our lives (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 12:1-2)!! The worst thing we could do is beg Him to depart, and then die in our sins!!!

They Do Not Want To Change.

People may not want to change for several reasons. Perhaps: 1) They are fooled into thinking they're doing right (I Kings 12:25-33). 2) They think their way is best (Prov. 14:12, 16:25). 3) They think they are too old to change (Num. 10:29-31). Refusing to change when it is needed can be harmful or even deadly, whether we are talking about physical or spiritual matters. Think about the consequences if the men called by Christ to be "fishers of men" had refused to do it! When people refuse to change in spite of all the evidence and in spite of all that Christ has done for them; if people refuse to turn from their sin to live for Christ, it is spiritually damaging, and results in spiritual death!!

It Is Easier To Stay In Sin.

Once a habit or practice is established, it is much easier to just keep on doing that, despite what others might say. We know it was much easier for the people in Matthew 8 to get rid of Christ than to get rid of their practices, and do what was right! This is not the last time Christ was rejected, either! He was rejected by Felix (Acts 24:25), by Agrippa (Acts 26:28), and countless others in the New Testament (and today) who refused to believe and obey the Gospel (Rom. 1:16; Mk. 16:16). Why did this happen? Because it is a lot easier to do this than to renounce what you are doing and start doing right. Remember though, the easiest way leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14)!

They Love The World More Than God.

The people in Matthew 8 were more concerned about the loss of their possessions (swine) than Christ. Who knows? If Christ had stayed, they might have lost everything (Remember Matt. 19:16-22?)! Many today are more concerned about material things than that which is most important -- their soul! This is SHORT-SIGHTED (Matt. 16:26). Friends, it is better that the entire population of swine on this earth would die than for one man/woman to lose their soul in a Devil's Hell!!!

Are you begging Christ to depart from you?

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