Saturday = Gospel day!!!
Jesus did something miraculous every 4 verses in these chapters, so I'm going to pick out my 2 favorites to talk about.
Right after Jesus had calmed the storm and they landed on the other side, two demon-possessed men came up from the tombs. They were always there, and nobody ever passed that way because they were so violent. That would be pretty scary - 2 crazy guys in the graveyard making a scene. When I was little I listened to this dramatized audio tape on this part, and the disciples were freaking out saying, "It's not safe to land here! We better go another way!" That's probably the way it was! Anyway, these two freaky guys came up and recognized Jesus without a second glance. They yelled, "What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Those demons will be tortured - they will be defeated and thrown into the abyss. There was a herd a pigs quite a ways away, and the demons begged not to be tortured, but to go into the pigs instead. Jesus said, "Go!" And man they went. Now we have a whole herd of demon possessed pigs - but not for long! They all ran into the lake and died. The people watching the pigs (what do you call them? Pigherds?) ran to the town and told everybody what had happened. The people of the town came out to Jesus and what did they do? Beg him to leave. Stop wreaking havoc. Gee whiz.
Here's another cool thing. This is what Jesus said about John the Baptist:
"I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come."
Wow!!! Wouldn't it be cool if Jesus praised you like that?
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