They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
—Mark 5:1-20
Why did Jesus let the demons go into the pigs and destroy them?
Many people have speculated before about this—
- Maybe it was a display of Jesus’ power, to help spread His fame. This seems a little callous, at the expense of people’s livelihoods.
- Maybe Jesus had compassion, even on the demons—this seems sketchy to me.
- I’ve speculated before that perhaps Jesus allowed this because He’s not a torturer—sending the demons to hell directly would have been an act of torture, whereas this way they had some sort of choice whether to engage in actions that would result in their going to hell.
The other day, however, I realized another option.
When the demons left the man, they went into the pigs who then drowned themselves in a rather spectacular fashion.
What if Jesus didn’t allow this for the sake of the demons, or the people, but for the man?
This was a man who’d been tormented by these demons for years—maybe decades. Now he was freed—and because of the pigs’ destruction, he had the assurance that the freedom was permanent. The gift Jesus gave the man that day wasn’t just deliverance. It was peace of mind. He never had to fear that those demons might come back. They were gone, for good.
Not only did the man see the destruction of the pigs and demons—the people did, too. They, also, wouldn’t be scared about the demons coming back. The man could be re-embraced into society without their risking their own safety.
The man knew the demons were gone, and the townspeople knew this, too. If he ever doubted, someone else could remind and reassure him. One man’s peace of mind and emotional well-being were worth 2000 pigs. That is the tenderness and mercy of God on display.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You aren't only interested in my well-being along only one dimension—but along all of them. Thank You for wholly caring for and providing for me. Thank You for mercy and tenderness that are so much bigger than my tiny definitions and understanding. Thank You that nothing can conquer or eclipse You. Amen.
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