The swine or the Savior?

An interesting thought occurred to me tonight as I was reading through the Gospel of Mark.  In my reading there was a huge story that jumped out at me.  I was able to read all the way through Mark 4, but when I got to Mark 5, the chapter stuck out at me big time.  There were a lot of amazing things that happened between Mark 4 and 5.  As I read through the story of Jesus casting out the demons out of the man of the Gadarenes, I was struck by what the messenger told the people.  Let's take a look at what was said:  "And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. (Mark 5:16,17 KJV).  

The first thing that we notice about the message is that it is two-fold.  The first part is the wonderful victory of Jesus, and the second part of the story is about the loss of swine.  What never ceases to amaze me is how these men actually told Jesus to leave.  Why is this?  They were eclipsed by the swine in their mind.  They chose the swine rather than the Savior.  How about us?  Do we choose the swine over the Precious Savior?  Let us not get discouraged by thinking about what we will have to give up when we follow Jesus, let's just make it a point to follow Him no matter what the cost may be and spend time simply enjoying the reality of His Blessings. I like how the story continues:  

"¹⁸ And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

¹⁹ Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

²⁰ And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." (Mark 5:18-20 KJV)