Begged to Leave: artist's commentary on the drawing for July 19 sermon

Begged to Leave (Jesus heals Legion, a man possessed by demons)

by Hannah Garrity

inspired by mark 5:1-20 | acrylic & ink on canvas

Have you ever seen the illustration of equity vs. equality? There
is a young child standing next to a young teenager and an adult.
They all wish to see over a fence. In the description of equality,
they each get a box that is the same size. The adult now towers
over the fence, the teenager can see, but the child is still unable
to see what’s on the other side. In the depiction of equity, they
each get a different sized box. Now, all of their heads are peering
comfortably over the fence. Why are we afraid of equity?

In the land of the Gerasenes, Jesus shows us what it looks like. He provides healing for an outcast of society, the man shows gratitude, and he evangelizes. This sounds like a moment we would rejoice in. Instead the townspeople beg Jesus to leave. Do they fear scarcity? But we know that God provides in abundance. Do they fear grace? But we yearn for God’s grace. Do they fear for their safety?

Why do humans fear the radical grace of God? Why did the people of Gerasene fear Jesus? We laud Jesus’ work in the gospel as the work we must replicate. We teach our children to think of what Jesus would do. However, time and again history shows us that when we truly work toward the embodiment of the gospel, humans interrupt the work. Humans killed Jesus.
                                                                                   - Hannah Garrity