When Jesus enters Capernaum, he is surrounded by crowds bringing theirsick and diseased to be healed. The crowd grows and demands more andmore. Yet as Jesus crosses the lake into Gadara, he meets a differentreaction. Having healed the two men with demons in front of a witness,the towns people come out and beg him to leave.

What did people want from Jesus and what do we want from Jesus? Thelarge thronging crowd wanting healing, did they really understand whathe was saying or did they just see hope for a cure where there had beennone.Those on the other side of the lake were scared and wanted nothingto do with him.
 Sometimes we can approach our spiritual lives in both these ways.Either with a shopping list of wants, the things on our agenda,orsometimes we are too scared to let him near the "Real" us, to be honestabout what we really feel and to be prepared to let him take control,we would also rather he left us alone.

When Jesus met the Roman officer he recognised in him a depth of faith,someone who was not surprised or frightened at what Jesus was capableof  who simply understood and believed.

"When Jesus heard this he was surprised and said to the peoplefollowing him"I tell you I have never found in Israel anyone with faith like this.......Go home and what you believe will be done for you."
Matthew 8 vs 10-13