In Matthew 8:28-34 we read of two demoniacs who are “so savage that no one could travel by that road.”After their encounter with Jesus liberates them from the tormenting demons, “the whole town came out to meet Jesus.”
From a total lack of personal engagement, emptiness brought about by fear and terror, to an enthusiastic gathering almost in celebration.
Evil is here depicted as the destruction of authentic human relationship.The work of Christ is a work of overcoming those forces that seek to destroy human relationship and the healing of the human community.
In our world today, troubled by war and terror, can there be any doubt that we still look to the saving work of Christ to confront and drive out the evil in human hearts and social structures.It is the Holy Spirit abiding in the lives of the disciples of Jesus that carries this work into our world today.In the power of the Spirit of Jesus, we who call ourselves friends of Christ, must still powerfully address fear causing demons of savage hatred and tormenting terror.