Mark 5: The Demons' Plea and the Gerasenes' Request
Mark 5: The Demons' Plea and the Gerasenes' Request
12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."
15 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.
17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
It's a rare scene where even demons pray to Jesus. The demons, named Legion, compelled to leave the man by Jesus's command, did not want to leave the region of the Gerasenes and pleaded with Jesus. Jesus honored the request of the Legion. Problems arise when boundaries are crossed, whether by humans or demons. Jesus prioritizes separation and order over mere extermination of demons. We err when we confess God as Creator while wrongly equating God and Satan as adversaries of equal might. If all things are God's creation, then both humans and demons are subjects for Jesus to save.
When Jesus did not refuse the Legion's request to enter the pigs, the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. Witnessing the man's return to sanity and the pigs' demise, the people were seized with fear. What exactly were they afraid of? Was it the expulsion of the demons from the man, or were they more concerned about the economic loss to the pig herders, fearing it might extend to other areas?
The frightened Gerasenes pleaded with Jesus to leave their place. To the people of Gerasenes, the economic loss resulting from the exorcism was more terrifying than their neighbor, once mad and demon-possessed, being restored to normalcy. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the elder brother is more concerned with the squandered wealth than with his younger brother's return. In contrast, the father rejoices and is thankful for the return of his lost son, now alive and well.
12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."
15 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.
17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
It's a rare scene where even demons pray to Jesus. The demons, named Legion, compelled to leave the man by Jesus's command, did not want to leave the region of the Gerasenes and pleaded with Jesus. Jesus honored the request of the Legion. Problems arise when boundaries are crossed, whether by humans or demons. Jesus prioritizes separation and order over mere extermination of demons. We err when we confess God as Creator while wrongly equating God and Satan as adversaries of equal might. If all things are God's creation, then both humans and demons are subjects for Jesus to save.
When Jesus did not refuse the Legion's request to enter the pigs, the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. Witnessing the man's return to sanity and the pigs' demise, the people were seized with fear. What exactly were they afraid of? Was it the expulsion of the demons from the man, or were they more concerned about the economic loss to the pig herders, fearing it might extend to other areas?
The frightened Gerasenes pleaded with Jesus to leave their place. To the people of Gerasenes, the economic loss resulting from the exorcism was more terrifying than their neighbor, once mad and demon-possessed, being restored to normalcy. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the elder brother is more concerned with the squandered wealth than with his younger brother's return. In contrast, the father rejoices and is thankful for the return of his lost son, now alive and well.