Fear can sometimes be debilitating. It can also be illogical.
We see fear played out in different forms in the account of Jesus and the demon-possessed man from the tombs of the Garasenes. Recall that this is when Jesus cast the demons out of the man and gave permission for them to go into a herd of swine. The swine ran down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned. (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-37; Matt. 8:28-34)
Fear ensued. Great fear. Illogical fear. When the townspeople heard what Jesus had done, it terrified them. Fear overcame them, and they wanted no part of this man Jesus who had released a demoniac man from torment and had set him in his right mind. Illogical. A rightful, compassionate act induced fear in the hearts of those who had no understanding of Jesus. It does the same today.
Yet there was no fear of Jesus in the demoniac man himself. When Jesus had stepped onto the Galilee shore, the demon-possessed man had run up to Him and bowed down before Him. He knew that Jesus was the only one who could free him. Others had tried, but were not powerful enough.
The man himself had not been afraid of Jesus. The demons in him were afraid, though, and begged Jesus not to torment them. They knew who He was and what He could do. He granted their request, and they went to the pigs. The man was now in his right mind and wanted to follow Jesus, not to be rid of Him, for he also knew what Jesus could do.
But... the townspeople and demons, both are terrified of Jesus. The townspeople, fearful out of ignorance. The demons, fearful out of knowledge. Fearful for different reasons, yet both are headed to the same eternal destination.
Jesus is to be feared, but not as the townspeople fear Him. He is God. Judgment is in His hand. But in the other hand is compassion and mercy. Fear of Jesus need not be debilitating. It is not illogical. Perfect love casts out fear. As Jesus cast the demons out of the man, He casts fear out of those who come to Him and bow down before Him. He casts off the fear that keeps them in bondage to their chains.
He says, "Come, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
I do hope that you have already come to Him, dear one. I hope to see you one day when I greet Him on Heaven's shore.
Image ~ Stiller Moment, Ernst Anders (1878)
public domain, Wikimedia Commons
