Don't Be A Pig

Why does Jesus allow the pigs to be killed?
That's often the question I'm left with after reading Matthew's account of Jesus's meeting with the two demon possessed men as He crosses the sea of Galilee.  Why kill the pigs?
Here's what's happening.  Jesus has just arrived in an area called the Gadarenes when two men possessed by demons come from the tombs to meet Him.  Yes, the tombs.  They lived there.  Like wild animals.  In fact, no one could go to the tombs because these men, given strength by the demons, were so violent that they would beat whoever came out.  Imagine not being able to go visit a loved one's tomb because two maniacs would attack you.
The demons ask a pretty obvious question, "what do you want with us?  Have you come to torture us before the appointed time?
Those are good questions if you're a demon, they just don't have much to do with reality.  First, Jesus hadn't come to see them, they just happened to be there.  Apparently being possessed makes you a little paranoid.  Or it could be that when you mess with evil you just assume that you're going to get caught.  Like, you can always tell whose got a little guilty conscience by who jumps and looks every time they hear a siren.  Second, these demons know that there has been an appointed time where God will deal with them, until then they are free to do their evil.  They also know Jesus doesn't "torture" any of them - not in His character.  But, lying is certainly in their character.  So they accuse Him of something they know He would not do.  Evil spends a lot of time accusing others of what it does.
Anyway, back to the pigs... the demons ask Jesus to send them into the pigs for some reason and He allows it.  He doesn't do it, He allows it.
And what happens to the pigs?  They are immediately thrown into confusion, they rush head-first down an embankment and into the Sea of Galilee and they all drown.
I thought pigs where supposed to be smart.  But that's what messing with evil will do to you.  And guess what, you don't have to be possessed by a demon to act like it.  When you and I engage in evil we "act like" those possessed.  So we run head-first into danger and destruction.  Usually in groups, misery loves company, and usually head-first with our eyes open.
If you're an animal lover you probably don't like this story... you're probably mad at Jesus for allowing it.  But that's what Jesus does.  He allows us to do the things we want to even when He knows the outcome will be devastating.  Why?  Because He's not a God who tortures us, or sails across the sea to confront us.  He's the God who patiently waits for us to come to him.
Like the two formerly demon possessed men.  Yes, the story isn't really about the pigs.  It's about the two lives that Jesus saved and about the whole town that was now better off having these two restored to them.  They were out the pigs, but they had regained their brothers, fathers and sons.
Don't be a pig.  Refuse the herd mentality that tries to get you to do something stupid just because everyone else is.  Don't be a pig.  If you can see you're heading toward danger, STOP!
Evil always accuses the innocent, distorts the truth, corrupts a group and rushes toward danger.  You don't have to join in.  Jesus wants to restore your life and sanity. Restore you to your family and give you a fresh start and a new hope.