Upon reading this passage, I think of modern day situations of school age bullies not letting other kids pass along that side of the street or gang members expressing their “territory.” Jesus knew there was something he could do about this and he did. The outcome though makes me think there were some other demons in the crowds.

How could a whole community not want Jesus around? Were they afraid of his power? Were they just upset at the loss of the pigs? Were there other demons in the crowd that the people just did not want to get rid of like the men at the tombs? Was it God hardening their hearts? (Romans 9:18)

Who are we like, the men who the demons left or the crowd that did not want Jesus around? To me, the crowd was more willing to have the demons than to have Jesus in their presence therefore condoning the devil’s work in the community. We as Christians should be on the lookout for these kinds of situations and not just pass them by, but pray, and if gifted, heal.