OVERCOME WITH FEAR
Fear is an interesting phenomenon that every person experiences. We read an interesting encounter Jesus had in the gospel of Luke, which helps us explore this further.
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs———For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. ———–
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.—————-the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.(Luke 8:26-36)
This was not just an amazing miracle, but the right thing and the best thing that could have happened to this demon possessed man. Yet, the people around him were overcome with fear when they witnessed it. Some lessons about fear are obvious-
Fear can overwhelm you– All emotions have a tendency to dominate, but none do it like fear. When fear comes, it can paralyze a man and render him completely futile. Recognizing this tendency helps man resist emotional extremes and keep it under check.
Fear is unreasonable-Try listing the things you are afraid of and you would find that if those same things were considered objectively, it would turn out to be baseless. Think of the several people who are afraid of flying but have no qualms about driving, though the latter has a much higher chance of killing you! The unreasonableness of fear becomes even more evident when we consider the fact that those who have Christ have found a means to overcome death, thereby abolishing the ultimate basis of all fear. What else can you be afraid of when death no longer scares you?
Fear makes you do foolish things-The best thing the folk of that town could have done would have been to ask Jesus to tarry, and he would have brought healing and light, but they asked Jesus to leave.
God does not force man and Jesus complied with their request. The loss was theirs.
