Afraid of Jesus?

Luke 8:35,37 -Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.

We do not know this man’s name, but we know some of his story. He probably had a normal childhood until demons entered him. We do not know why they came, but we know their effect. He was a public nuisance. He was apparently violent and probably hurt others and caused property damage. He was enough of a problem that the Gerasene people tried everything they could to keep him suppressed, but nothing could hold him back. He broke every chain placed on him. There seemed to be no hope for him or limiting the pain he caused his community until Jesus came, cast the demons out, and set him free.

The people he had formerly tormented came to see him. He had been transformed. What they people had not been able to do – even in a temporary, partial way – Jesus did completely and fully. The man’s life was restored to normal. He regained self-control. He was ready to reenter society and make a positive contribution.

If you were a Gerasene, wouldn't you have celebrated this man’s life change? If not for his sake, at least you would have been grateful to not have to deal with his moaning and violence, right? Yet, the people were afraid. They even asked Jesus to leave, which he did without question. It seems these people preferred to live with problems they were not able to solve on their own rather than invite Jesus to make miraculous life change, and Jesus does not force himself on anyone. I wonder how many of us today have that same heart. Are you afraid of inviting Jesus in? Are you afraid of the transformation he might bring?