Luke 8:36-40

Luke 8:36 (KJB)
They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Once word had spread concerning the events which took place, the entire town had come out to see Jesus. No longer was the focus on the devil possessed man and his deliverance, they now focused strictly on Jesus. Those who went into the town and told the owners had also told them the means that the man was healed, that is, they told them about Jesus being the one who healed him.

Luke 8:37 (KJB)
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

The people were obviously frightened of Jesus and asked Him to leave the area because they had just lost a huge herd of swine which would have been worth much money. They had desired the pigs over Jesus, nevertheless, the two men whom Jesus delivered from the demonic possession had stayed behind and now there were two witnesses to the power of Jesus who had shown ultimate power over the kingdom of Satan.

Luke 8:38 (KJB)
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

What a difference in attitude between the people of the town and the man who was delivered of the devils by Jesus. The people of the town were more concerned with the pigs and wanted Jesus to leave. The man who was delivered of the devils was so thankful, he wanted to follow Jesus as a disciple of His. You would think the townspeople would have welcomed Jesus because not everyone in the town owned the pigs so not everyone lost money.

Luke 8:39 (KJB)
Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Although Jesus knew how thankful this man was, yet He did not allow him to become a disciple of His, that is, one of the traveling disciples. However, Jesus commanded him to go home to his friends and family and testify to the fact of how Jesus had delivered him from the devils. In this manner, he became a disciple because he testified to all the things the Lord had done. Place yourself back in that village where his friends lived. Can you imagine what they thought when they saw him coming into town? They probably grabbed all the children and brought them inside and then hunkered down expecting a demonic tirade. His basic testimony was that he was delivered from the devils and now in his right mind. He can now testify to the compassion the Lord had on him in contrast to the scorn all the people had toward him when he was possessed. This is the normal routine for the majority of those who become saved. Not everyone will be sent to some foreign land as a missionary but will be a testimony right at home.

Luke 8:40 (KJB)
And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

They had now crossed over unto the western side of the Sea of Galilee. It is interesting to note the difference in attitude toward Jesus the people on the western side had versus those on the eastern side. Here we see that multitude of people had come to Him and He was just arriving. It is not stated as to what part of the western shore He landed on but it might have been from where He left and the people who were on the western shore, were awaiting his return. It looks like a spiritual picture where the Christian today is waiting for the return of Christ just as those on the western shore were.

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