What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?

 

 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 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 

 

Yesterday we read that, in Capernaum, when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."  Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us!  We are perishing!"  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" 

 

  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 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.  My study Bible comments on today's passage that the demons, who recognize Jesus as the Son of God, are surprised that their power is being terminated before the time of the last judgment.  Although their malice is great, they can't do anything against the will of God.  Thus, they can only enter the swine at Christ's command.  Moreover, my study Bible adds, the immediate destruction of the herd reveals that these men had been protected by God's care; without it, they would have perished under the demonic influence.  Additionally, it reinforces that swineherding was not lawful for the Jews.  It shows the incomparable value of human beings, whose salvation is worth every sacrifice. 

 

 This story also appears in the Gospels of St. Mark and St. Luke, but there are a few distinctive differences.  In the story according to Sts. Mark and Luke, there is only one demoniac mentioned, but as there are also more details given to us of his story following his healing, it seems quite possible that those accounts were written about a particular man, while in St. Matthew's Gospel, there are two in need of exorcism.  This is a Gentile region, with a population of mixed Jews and Gentiles, and our story takes place outside of city, in the countryside.  But the people who raise swine are likely Jews who herd and sell swine for a Gentile population, which already tells us something in terms of their adherence to their faith.  Moreover, many sources assure us that such demonic possession is not possible without prior participation in some forms of demonic rituals or practices.  These men live in the tombs among the dead, and so uncleanness is associated with everything in this environment.  It's possible they practice a kind of idolatry; according to at least one Church Father (Chromatius, Bishop of Aquileia, late 4th cent.), this might include venerating the memories of dictators or images of the dead.  All of these are practices forbidden in Judaism.  Over the course of the past few readings we've witnessed Jesus moving to save and heal those who are in some sense unclean, touching the leper to heal him in Saturday's reading, and a willingness to enter the home of the centurion to heal his servant in Monday's reading.  Let us keep in mind also the remarkable story of the journey to get to this place, as Jesus has taken His disciples across a threatening and stormy Sea of Galilee to come here (see yesterday's reading, above).  What it tells us in a nutshell is about the character of Christ, Savior and Redeemer, who will go through any and all lengths required to save what is salvageable.  Of course, this understanding reflects the whole of the story of Christ's Incarnation, and particularly His death on the Cross, and the Resurrection and Ascension that followed.  The fierceness and chaos in these two men reflect the effects of the demonic, the affliction that tears people from civilization and renders them rudderless save for the malice of the demons.  Note that the demons recognize Jesus first, and even indignantly demand to know if He's come to torment them before the time of the Judgment to come.  They know all about Jesus; they know He is the Son of God and call Him so.  Then they bargain before exorcism; they wish Him to send them into the herd of swine, who become suicidal en masse under their influence.  Those who keep the swine flee into the city and tell all to the people.  The whole city returns to beg Jesus to leave their region.  This tells us about an environment as a whole, a people for whom the exorcism of these demons means nothing compared to the loss of their swine.  But again, the stories that appear in the Gospels of St. Mark and St. Luke tell us about one man now freed from demonic possession who will go on to proclaim in the city what great things the Lord has done for him.  Today's story is a kind of reflection of spiritual battle, a picture of Christ -- our ultimate commander and Lord -- who can go into the worst of afflicted environments and yet still command the demons who desire to resist His rule.  He is authority over all; at the conclusion of St. Matthew' Gospel Jesus will declare to the disciples, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (see Matthew 28:18-20).  Clearly we are given to understand that there are no limits to the depth or the breadth of Christ's authority, and this is what St. Matthew's Gospel teaches.  Let us take heed for our faith, and remember that He is with us always, even to the end of the age.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 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, on the same day after preaching in parables, when evening had come, He said to the disciples, "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 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.  The country of the Gadarenes, my study Bible explains, is in a region in Galilee with a mixed population of Gentiles and Jews.  Let us note this detailed and fairly careful description of this man whose life we can clearly say is in utter disorder.  He dwells among the tombs with the dead and not with the living.  He cannot be controlled, neither by himself nor by others who have sought to bind him often with shackles and chains.  But even these chains had been pulled apart and the shackles broken.  At the same time, no one could tame him; he is a state of chaos.  Moreover, he is self-destructive:   he is always 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.  This Legion of demons occupying this man and making his life miserable, recognize Jesus.  They know He is the Son of the Most High God. They fear the time of judgment, and they also fear torment.  We note that the text seems to indicate that Jesus immediately sought to exorcise this man.  Moreover, even under the severe yoke of the demonic influence, the text says that this man ran and worshiped Jesus when he saw Him from afar.  The Greek word translated as worshiped literally means to fall on one's knees, to kiss the ground before another as in prostration.  But this word is often used for "worship."   In whatever sense this is used, the text seems to indicate that the man reaches to Christ, although the demons fear Him.

 

 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.  The swine give us an indication that Jesus and the disciples are in a place with a great deal of Gentile population.   My study Bible comments that this extremely violent and self-destructive death of about two thousand swine indicates that this man had been protected by God's care.  Otherwise, he would have perished under the demonic influence.  It also reinforces the understanding that swineherding was not lawful for the Jews, and shows the incomparable value of human beings, whose 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.  This part of the text emphasizes for us that these people are likely to be Jews who are engaged in what was (for Jews) a sinful occupation:  raising swine to sell to the large Gentile population in that region.  These people make a clear choice:  they fear Jesus.  Rather than marveling at the transformational change in the man under the influence of the Legion of demons and his astonishing healing (they saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind), the only thing that makes an impact on them is the loss of their swine.  Rather than welcoming the good news and the power of Christ manifest in their midst, they 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.  Here is the response of the man who, while under the severe influence of a Legion of demons, ran toward Christ and worshiped Him.  He does not want to stay in this place where the status quo of his affliction was preferable to those who beg Jesus to leave.  He begs to get into the boat and become a disciple of Jesus.  But Jesus has another plan for him, another way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ:  "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."

 

 What we need to marvel at in today's story is the thing that is completely overlooked by the people who own the swine, and that is the great transformation that takes place in the former demoniac.  This tormented man goes from being utterly disordered and impossibly unregulated, to peacefully sitting and clothed and in his right mind.  How does someone go from being so entirely out of sorts to sitting quietly and clothed and in his right mind?  This is a great transformation, an effective change made possible entirely by Christ.  In our modern world, many people -- perhaps particularly city dwellers -- are familiar with sights of homeless populations and individuals.  Many of these seem to be striking images of disordered conduct such as we read here:  clothing in tatters, rambling speech, shouting, and all manner of inability to live in what one might call conventional community, such as it is today.  But the picture we get of this man beset by a legion of demons seems to indicate one thing very clearly:  all of this disorder within him and in his life is precipitated by the influence of the demons.  While the demons plead with Christ not to torment them, what we can see is how they are indeed tormenting this man.  Why is he cutting himself on the rocks?  Why does he go about incessantly shouting?  Why is he living among the tombs -- and why can he not be clothed or even tamed so that when he is, by contrast, simply "sitting" it is a revelation of good order?  This clear contrast between the chaos of his demoniac life and his finally peaceful state through the power of Christ teaches us about the demons and what they do.  They respect no boundaries whatsoever, neither those that one considers "should" be proper to them, nor the boundaries of this poor, unfortunate man who must live in the midst of a legion of them.  He is their victim, a sort of scapegoat upon which they all parasitically rest and derive whatever it is that the demonic receives from people they afflict.  The demons are bullies; this man is in a sense swamped by them and unable to fend them off alone.  In short, Christ comes into this picture as Liberator, and He is a Liberator and Deliverer of a particular kind.  Only He makes it possible for these demons, trespassing where they don't belong, and creating misery for the man, to be evacuated and routed out.  As my study Bible points out, we can see how terrifyingly destructive they are in this almost savage scene of the swine rushing down the steep place to their deaths in the sea.  It might help here to remember that in Scripture, cliffs can symbolize the perilous nature of sin.  But all of this is lost on the people who simply respond with fear to Jesus.  There is no faith in them.  They care only for the swine which they have lost, and Jesus the Son of the Most High God is not welcome in their world.  Christ's effect is too frighteningly "other" for them, outside of their norm, and beyond their entirely worldly set of values, where even this man who was lost and is healed seems to mean nothing to them.  Let us also look at the bigger picture, and recall that Jesus has set sail with the disciples across a frighteningly stormy Sea of Galilee, seemingly just to come to this place.  Here, He has found one man desperately in need of His saving power, and Jesus in turn sends the healed man home to the Decapolis (meaning "ten cities" in Greek, a region of great Roman and Greek cultural influence), to proclaim great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.  Note that in contrast to the vicious world of the demons, Christ's powerful victory is not one of conquest and suffering, but one in which the demons are allowed to go where they want to into the herd of swine, and this man is liberated from his captivity -- especially through the compassion of Christ.  On the one hand, modern readers may feel sorry for the swine.  But on the other hand, they are simply the property of those for whom their sale and slaughter will bring profit, and who care absolutely nothing for the welfare of an afflicted human being.  In this reading, then, we have the contrast of what we might call two kingdoms, one of the demons, and the other the kingdom of God, which Jesus bears into the world, as will the apostles (Luke 10:9).  Let us remember the great good news of the healed man, and the message of the Lord's compassion.

What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

Healing of the Demon Possessed (Mark 5), Ottheinrich Bible, 1425-30. Bavarian State Library, Munich, Germany

 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, on the same day Jesus had been preaching in parables, when evening had come, He 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.  Today's reading takes place across the Sea of Galilee, outside of the familiar territory of Jesus' disciples and His ministry.  This is still in Galilee, however, my study bible says, and it is a place where there are many Gentiles mixed midst with the Jewish population.

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.  The description of the plight of this man is always striking in my view.  He lives among the tombs, far away from life and community and a civilized kind of existence.  No one can bind him, or bring order to his life, although he has often been bound with shackles and chains.  Let us note the details of his life:  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."  The demons, according to my study bible, are surprised that their power is being terminated before the time of the last judgment (see Matthew 8:29).  We note the slavish understanding of these demons; while they use their power to torment and destroy this man, they fear only torment from Jesus.

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.   Many feel that this takes place in Gentile territory, due to the swine being raised in this area.  But still others comment that it indicates apostate Jews who raise swine for money, against the precepts of the Law (Deuteronomy 14:8), as lucrative commodity to sell to the Gentile population.  Living among Gentiles, they have taken on Gentile practices.  The demons essentially beg for mercy, which Christ grants them; but the swine are not protected by God in the same way that the tormented demoniac was, and the demons destroy them.

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.  Two different directions are apparent here.  In the first, those who were raising the swine see this formerly demon-possessed man, sitting and clothed and in his right mind, and it means nothing to them.  They care far more for the loss of their swine, and so they respond with fear and plead with Jesus to depart from their region.  And on the other hand, there is the healed man, who wishes only to get into the boat and go with Jesus, and begged Him that he might be with Him.  But instead, with his faith and his experience of healing, Jesus sends him out as a type of early evangelist and apostle, clearly preparing the way for the future Church:  "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."

One commentary on this story reminds us of Jesus' own journey to come, and how it is reflected in some way in today's reading.  St. Peter Chrysologus, a 5th century bishop known for his homilies, preached, "Behold where is he, who was promised all the glories of this world, found to dwell—where?—in the tombs! Compassed about with the putrid rottenness of dead bodies"  (Sermons 17).  In a certain sense, this man oppressed and driven mad by the demons dwells where Christ brings life, in the tombs.  It tells us about how infinitely and inexhaustibly resilient the human soul is, for even under such conditions, and apparently for a great length of time, he is still capable of running to Christ and recognizing his need of Him.  It also tells us about Jesus' mission, that it is indeed "to the ends of the earth" in this sense of coming to this forsaken place and this forsaken person, left to dwell wild among the tombs with no sense of life nor community nor hope -- until Jesus comes.  Let us also note how Christ Himself aims his journey directly toward this man on this foreign shore of the Sea of Galilee, and remember the storm through which the disciples have passed to get here.   All of this indicates it is deliberate, with Jesus' mission being to redeem this man, despite his circumstances, his history, and the place where he has lived and those among whom he has dwelt.  Nothing is hopeless.  This is our message.  The glory of humanity -- made in the image of God -- remains visible to our Creator, who seeks only to redeem those who still retain the capacity (however elusive) to desire that redemption.  In the light of this story, one must consider that Christ will Himself go into the tomb in order to secure this great depth of hope -- even among death -- for all of humanity, and not only for this poor and oppressed demoniac.  If the actions and conditions of the demoniac resemble what might seem modern-day sights of homelessness and those in need of mental health care, let us not lose sight of the message that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).  Speaking from this place, we may indeed consider that it makes little difference whether we are speaking of this abandoned man in the tombs or a wealthy man living in a palace and bound to wealth (as in Matthew 19).  There is always hope, for God has created us so, and Christ has come into the world to teach us so.  The one thing that can keep us from the love of Christ is our continued rejection of such love -- and even then, the depths of the human heart are not even fully known to ourselves, but only to God.  Let us consider the boundless hope expressed in today's reading, the infinite chances we have for redemption, how nothing is lost to God that is given to Christ (John 6:39).   Through all things, let us always remember that it is the slimmest of chances on which Christ stakes His ministry and bets on us, His effort for all of us.  It gives us the great message that we must never give up hope at any time, even against a sea of troubles or a legion of enemies.  There might be times when we also feel like asking, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?"  And the correct answer is, "Everything."