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Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
- Mark 5:1-20
Yesterday we read that when evening had come, Jesus said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. Jesus and the disciples have set out across the Sea of Galilee, through a terrible storm in the night that left the disciples -- among them professional fishermen whose work was on the Sea of Galilee -- terrified for their lives. Here in this country on the other side they find this man, possessed by a legion of demons. (A Roman legion at the time of Christ was comprised of approximately five to six thousand men.) This is a region in which many Gentiles live among the Jews. The Gentile influence is easily seen here in the raising of the swine; while some comment that these are Gentiles, it is more likely that they are apostate Jews who are raising swine which was forbidden by Jewish Law (Deuteronomy 14:8). The first thing we note is that they are among the tombs where this man lives. He's unfit to dwell among the living. He's uncontrollable, wild and uncivilized -- untamable, as the text indicates. He even breaks the shackles and chains used to bind him. The demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God, and fear torment (the word here also means "torture.") They absolutely fear the power of Jesus, and in His presence, they can do nothing without His permission -- even to enter the swine. My study bible notes that the immediate destruction of the herd of swine shows that the man had been protected by God's care. Otherwise, he would have perished under the influence of the demons. It reinforces also that swineherding wasn't lawful for the Jews, and that human beings are of incomparable value to God, as their salvation is worth every sacrifice.
So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Although they see that the man who had formerly been demon-possessed is now sitting and clothed and in his right mind, the people from the region beg Jesus to leave. The financial income from raising the swine -- a sinful occupation for Jews -- is worth more to them than this man's life and health. Rather than rejoicing, they respond by being afraid. They plead with Jesus to depart from their region. My study bible says that the magnitude of the economic loss would remain as a sign for the hard-hearted people who fled. On the other hand, we see a clear distinguishing split between the healed man and these people. He begs Jesus to allow him to be with Him. But Jesus has a plan, a good thing for this healed man to do: to go home to his friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.
The story of the healed man bears a slight resemblance to elements of the story of the Prodigal Son (which is found only in Luke's Gospel, see Luke 15:11-32). The Prodigal found himself in a far country with nothing, where he was reduced by circumstances to work feeding swine, and would gladly have eaten the food of the swine. But then "he came to himself" (the text reads) and remembered that his father treated his servants well, and so he decided to return home despite his own foolishness and prodigal living. Of course, his father receives him home as beloved son, and not as servant. In the case of this demon-possessed man, he's also living among strangers who care nothing for him at all. He's far away from his friends (to whom Jesus sends him after healing him). There is the obvious parallel of living among those who have no respect for the Law of Moses, and in that context both men are degraded by their circumstances. The real key to the parallel is in Jesus' words to the healed demoniac, the true good news of the Gospel: "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." Note the commands of Jesus here: "Go home to your friends . . .." The man is not among those who care for him nor for the law of Moses nor the word and action of God in their presence. They'd rather have the swine back; they cared nothing about the oppression of the demons. These words from Christ are loving words for each one of us: Do we find ourselves among friends? Are those with whom we surround ourselves truly caring people? Do they share the values of love and compassion that Christ brings us? Do they care if we are healed or do they encourage or in some way abet forms of self-destruction? In modern language, we speak of co-dependency which works to help keep us stuck in some form of self-destructive behavior. What would Christ have to say about that? He takes this man out of the harmful environment, and sends him home to his friends -- those who will appreciate his healing and the good news of the Lord's "good things" done for him and compassion on him. That is the second part of the instructions of Christ, and parallels the story of the Prodigal Son in recognizing the love and compassion of God, who always wants to do good things for us. For those of us whose expectations are of a more destructive or harsh or even exploitative nature, the love of God will come as something surprising, unusual, and possibly even to be feared, as it threatens the status quo. There's a clear division here, between the environment that tolerates and fosters the destructive nature of the demons, and those whose hearts can welcome the presence of Christ -- and in particular the actions of love, the "good things" Christ can do for us, and the compassion of the Lord. While we may hear endless lip service given to these virtues, in practice life becomes quite a different thing, when compassion leads us to change and to recognize what is truly better. We may find ourselves taken out of our environment, and needing to find one in which we can recognize who true friends are, the ones who will share in the good news of true healing and personal change. Christ's message remains as true for us today as ever. Let us consider all the healing necessary in our own environment, and those who need Christ's love. That love is not tolerance for destruction; it's help for life. It asks us to do what is necessary for true healing. Let us be willing to make the choice for His love, in all circumstances, and whatever change is necessary to embrace it and share in the good news of Christ's compassion.
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. Jesus and the disciples have set out across the Sea of Galilee, through a terrible storm in the night that left the disciples -- among them professional fishermen whose work was on the Sea of Galilee -- terrified for their lives. Here in this country on the other side they find this man, possessed by a legion of demons. (A Roman legion at the time of Christ was comprised of approximately five to six thousand men.) This is a region in which many Gentiles live among the Jews. The Gentile influence is easily seen here in the raising of the swine; while some comment that these are Gentiles, it is more likely that they are apostate Jews who are raising swine which was forbidden by Jewish Law (Deuteronomy 14:8). The first thing we note is that they are among the tombs where this man lives. He's unfit to dwell among the living. He's uncontrollable, wild and uncivilized -- untamable, as the text indicates. He even breaks the shackles and chains used to bind him. The demons recognize Jesus as the Son of the Most High God, and fear torment (the word here also means "torture.") They absolutely fear the power of Jesus, and in His presence, they can do nothing without His permission -- even to enter the swine. My study bible notes that the immediate destruction of the herd of swine shows that the man had been protected by God's care. Otherwise, he would have perished under the influence of the demons. It reinforces also that swineherding wasn't lawful for the Jews, and that human beings are of incomparable value to God, as their salvation is worth every sacrifice.
So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Although they see that the man who had formerly been demon-possessed is now sitting and clothed and in his right mind, the people from the region beg Jesus to leave. The financial income from raising the swine -- a sinful occupation for Jews -- is worth more to them than this man's life and health. Rather than rejoicing, they respond by being afraid. They plead with Jesus to depart from their region. My study bible says that the magnitude of the economic loss would remain as a sign for the hard-hearted people who fled. On the other hand, we see a clear distinguishing split between the healed man and these people. He begs Jesus to allow him to be with Him. But Jesus has a plan, a good thing for this healed man to do: to go home to his friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.
The story of the healed man bears a slight resemblance to elements of the story of the Prodigal Son (which is found only in Luke's Gospel, see Luke 15:11-32). The Prodigal found himself in a far country with nothing, where he was reduced by circumstances to work feeding swine, and would gladly have eaten the food of the swine. But then "he came to himself" (the text reads) and remembered that his father treated his servants well, and so he decided to return home despite his own foolishness and prodigal living. Of course, his father receives him home as beloved son, and not as servant. In the case of this demon-possessed man, he's also living among strangers who care nothing for him at all. He's far away from his friends (to whom Jesus sends him after healing him). There is the obvious parallel of living among those who have no respect for the Law of Moses, and in that context both men are degraded by their circumstances. The real key to the parallel is in Jesus' words to the healed demoniac, the true good news of the Gospel: "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." Note the commands of Jesus here: "Go home to your friends . . .." The man is not among those who care for him nor for the law of Moses nor the word and action of God in their presence. They'd rather have the swine back; they cared nothing about the oppression of the demons. These words from Christ are loving words for each one of us: Do we find ourselves among friends? Are those with whom we surround ourselves truly caring people? Do they share the values of love and compassion that Christ brings us? Do they care if we are healed or do they encourage or in some way abet forms of self-destruction? In modern language, we speak of co-dependency which works to help keep us stuck in some form of self-destructive behavior. What would Christ have to say about that? He takes this man out of the harmful environment, and sends him home to his friends -- those who will appreciate his healing and the good news of the Lord's "good things" done for him and compassion on him. That is the second part of the instructions of Christ, and parallels the story of the Prodigal Son in recognizing the love and compassion of God, who always wants to do good things for us. For those of us whose expectations are of a more destructive or harsh or even exploitative nature, the love of God will come as something surprising, unusual, and possibly even to be feared, as it threatens the status quo. There's a clear division here, between the environment that tolerates and fosters the destructive nature of the demons, and those whose hearts can welcome the presence of Christ -- and in particular the actions of love, the "good things" Christ can do for us, and the compassion of the Lord. While we may hear endless lip service given to these virtues, in practice life becomes quite a different thing, when compassion leads us to change and to recognize what is truly better. We may find ourselves taken out of our environment, and needing to find one in which we can recognize who true friends are, the ones who will share in the good news of true healing and personal change. Christ's message remains as true for us today as ever. Let us consider all the healing necessary in our own environment, and those who need Christ's love. That love is not tolerance for destruction; it's help for life. It asks us to do what is necessary for true healing. Let us be willing to make the choice for His love, in all circumstances, and whatever change is necessary to embrace it and share in the good news of Christ's compassion.
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