What have we to do with you, Jesus?

When he had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to depart from their region.

- Matthew 8:28-34

This is perhaps one of Jesus' most spectacular healing miracles. It is an exorcism, but truly an act of healing. It is found in other gospels, but in a slightly different form.

I'm going to begin by quoting a lengthy note from my study bible on the entire passage: "The two Gergesene demoniacs are unsuitable for society and live at a great distance from the village. They are possessed by mental derangement, which makes them aggressive and self-destructive. The demons in them recognize Jesus as the Son of God. They know they have nothing in common with him, for Jesus seeks man's salvation; but his presence torments them and expels them. They are surprised that their power is being terminated before the time of the last judgment. Thus, even before his Resurrection Jesus rescues people from the devil's control. Jesus does not yield to their request, but sends them out by his will: though the malice and deceitfulness of the demons is great, they can do nothing unless he permits them. Even the demoniacs had enjoyed God's providential care. The demons' entering into the swine (v. 32), which were unclean for the Jews, is a sign of the reality of the demoniacs' healing. Jesus' sovereign power is not only over physical infirmity, but over mental illness as well. It shows us the incomparable value of human beings, whose salvation is worth every sacrifice."

When he had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. I think it's important that we begin by understanding the condition of these men. As my study bible indicates, they are considered unfit for human society. They live among the tombs - in the realm of the dead, and not the living. They are also "exceedingly fierce" so that they drive others off - they are not only set apart, but their affliction drives others away, they are self-destructive.

And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" They (the demons) recognize Christ in his full identity as Son of God - and fear his healing power. The demonic has completely taken over and eclipsed the lives of these afflicted men. We could say that their mental illness has taken full control over their lives.

Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. We understand that Matthew's gospel is written for a Jewish audience. These afflicted men are in Gentile territory - Jews would not keep swine, considered to be unclean animals. Therefore, for a Jewish audience, that these "unclean spirits" would choose to be swept away into a herd of "unclean animals" makes a particular kind of sense - it is an understanding of what is happening in spiritual terms. What is important is that we understand the ultimately self-destructive nature of this affliction. It was simply full-time torment to the men - it becomes an action of pure destruction for the herd of swine. The men were forced to live in the realm of the dead - the swine "run violently down the steep place" to drown themselves in the sea. This affliction of the demonic is violent and self-destructive, to both the swine and the men.

Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to depart from their region. We understand that this is a city that has rejected Jesus' healing power. All they can think about are the lost swine - rather than the miracle of the healing of the men who were demon-possessed. Elsewhere in the gospels, however, there is an addition to this story. (See Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you.) The healed man is sent out by Jesus to tell others what has happened to him; in effect, he becomes the first evangelist.

But in Matthew's gospel, we are to understand not only the healing power of Christ, but the importance of the choices we make in response to this power. These men were cast out, unfit to live in the society with others, given up and numbered among the dead. But they have been restored through Christ's healing action. If we compare, once again, to this story in other gospels, not only do the demons cry out but also the man himself "worshiped Jesus." That does not happen in this version. In Matthew's gospel, the entire community - presumably including those who have been saved - asks Jesus to leave. It is a full rejection of Christ - despite the healing (or perhaps, because of it and the destruction of the swine). So, in that sense, this story tells a different tale to us: about the nature of our choices.

If we compare the self-destructive behavior in these men to that of an addiction, for example, or other mental affliction, we understand several things about the nature of our social ailments. First of all, to change and to be healed will disrupt the social order created by the illness. In this case, the men are separated from the society, they live among the tombs and no one dares go near them. But the freeing of the affliction causes change: the swine are destroyed. Something else gives to make way for change among the society. We could see this as analogous to the adjustments and changes that often need to be made around emotional and mental afflictions of many types in our society. Within a structure - such as a family structure - the problem affects more than the most immediate and obvious member struggling under the effects of an illness or affliction. Adjustment and healing often require that the entire social structure shift and change, to make room for the healing. Boundaries are often an issue that need to be redressed, and there are all kinds of behaviors that need to be adjusted for the whole social structure to be healed. In that sense, such afflictions are not simply the disease of the person most obviously affected - who may reach a point at which they have little or no control over their illness. But healing requires a whole shift in the structures and interactions of the family or social group, often re-learning new behaviors and discarding old beliefs and patterns. It always rests its success on the acceptance of truth - and on love. In this case, we can see this story as analogous to the types of ailments and afflictions of an emotional or mental nature we see in our society today. Are we prepared to accept the truth? Are we prepared to accept the full effects of healing? Are we prepared to "make room" for the new ideas necessary - and the truth and love that will create a fully supportive system for health? In this case, the community does not value the healing as much as it values its swine - the material things they have lost to this change. They were happier with the status quo. There is always an exchange. In all circumstances - for the desperately afflicted or simply for those coping with the more easy stresses of life - we are prepared for an exchange. And we must also be prepared for the shift in our lives that exchange will ask of us for healing, restitution, redemption, reconciliation. We know that Jesus has told us, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." The road to healing may involve many changes and adjustments, great and small. But if we are prepared to accept the pearl of great price, then we understand the exchange is worthwhile. It all depends on what you treasure, what you put first in your life.