Why Would They Want Jesus To Leave Them?

I have always wondered why the crowd, that was witnessing the after-effects of the demon-possessed man, pleaded with Jesus to leave their area. Jesus cast out the demon(s) in the man into a herd of pigs, that ended up drowned in a lake. They witnessed with their own eyes the once possessed, now sane and calm, man acting as normal as they were. Why would they want Jesus to leave them? Why would they want Someone Who could work miracles to not stay and work more miracles for them? Probably for the same reason Peter did when he experienced the power and holiness of Jesus. Peter words speak volumes for how sinners respond to Holiness, “ oh Lord, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around You”. God’s Holiness, by comparison, reveals our unholiness. When we are not in right standing with God, it makes us feel the weight of our guilt and shame. We tend to run away from God so we don’t have to experience these feelings of inadequacy. It’s probably the reason why the people wanted Jesus to leave. How often do we do the same? The problem is when you’re not in a right standing with God, running away only compounds the problem. We need to run to God, for He is the only One able to forgive us of our sin. When we do run toward God, we find Him waiting with open arms ready to forgive. That’s why Jesus is so important. He is the reason God waits with open arms. It represents what Jesus did on the cross, which reveals His enormous love for us. Oh, how so many never understand, and thus keep themselves from ever experiencing forgiveness. Do not be like the people wanting Jesus to leave. Invite Him in, no, run to Him. He’s waiting with outstretched arms.

14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.  Mark 5:14