1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-40; Colossians 1:21-2:7
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. Matthew 8:34
The demoniacs’ dramatic conversions led the townspeople to investigate the Lord for themselves. Sadly, they promptly asked Him to leave. They were accustomed to these violently possessed men. No doubt they could think of numerous dysfunctionally sinful people in their community. But they could not fathom the love that transformed
these debased men into new creatures. The newly saved are sometimes rejected by their loved ones because the lost are frightened by God’s power that frees from sin and produces spiritual fruit. Wickedness they comprehend, but grace is inscrutable. —Keith R. Keyser
Ungrateful sinners, whence this scorn of long-extended grace?
And whence this madness, that insults the Almighty to His face?—P. Doddridge