Tales of Two Healings

The last half of Luke Chapter 8 (MSG) relates the story about Jesus healing two special people. Following their cures, our Lord challenged each of them in completely different ways.

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The first tale of healing was of a man possessed by demons (verses 26-39), a whole lot of demons. In fact there were so many demons controlling the man that when Jesus asked his name, he replied, "Mob!" Wanting to escape the bottomless pit of Hell, the devilish beings begged for the Master to order them into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus agreed to their request. Immediately swine mob, maddened into a frenzy, dashed to their deaths over a cliff into a lake. The man asked to accompany Jesus but was told to return home and tell everyone about his experience. The man did as commanded and preached all over town.

The second tale was of the daughter of a village leader (verses 49-56). Word came of the death of the  girl. Jesus went to her home anyway. He told them she was only sleeping. They laughed. They KNEW she was dead. Jesus simply touched the young girl's hand and said, "My dear child, get up." She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. "Don't tell a soul what happened in this room."

To tell or not to tell, that is my question. I won't hazard a guess as to why the totally opposite instructions after each of these miracles. I'm reasonably sure it had nothing to do with age, gender, or even the nature of the illnesses. I do trust that it was all about God's plan and the desired outcome in each of these Tales of Two Healings.