Then they sailed to the territory of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When he came ashore a man from the town who was possessed by demons met him. For a long time he had not worn clothes; he did not live in a house, but lived among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him; in a loud voice he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!” 29 For he had ordered the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (It had taken hold of him many times, and he used to be bound with chains and shackles as a restraint, but he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) 30 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they pleaded with him not to order them to depart to the abyss. 32 A herd of many swine was feeding there on the hillside, and they pleaded with him to allow them to enter those swine; and he let them. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. 35 People came out to see what had happened and, when they approached Jesus, they discovered the man from whom the demons had come out sitting at his feet. He was clothed and in his right mind, and they were seized with fear. 36 Those who witnessed it told them how the possessed man had been saved. 37 The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. So he got into a boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had come out begged to remain with him, but he sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and recount what God has done for you.” The man went off and proclaimed throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him.
Luke adapted Mark’s story (Mk. 5:1-20) about Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gerasa was one of the cities in the Gentile region of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities located primarily on the eastern border of the Roman Empire. That region is now modern-day Jordan, Syria, and northern Israel. The passage illustrates Jesus’ authority over evil and his power to transform those under the forces of evil. It also shows his compassion and mercy towards the afflicted and the mixed reaction his miracles had on the community.
Jesus encountered a man who was under severe demonic influence as indicated by his self-destructive behavior and social isolation. The man had been bound in chains and shackles but human efforts could not control him. Under traditional Jewish thinking, living among the tombs would render the man unclean physically and spiritually (ritually impure) (Num. 19:16) because of his constant contact with a place of death.
The demoniac recognized Jesus immediately and fell in fear before him, acknowledging his divine nature as the "Son of the Most High God," which gave him power and authority over evil. The demoniac’s plea not to be tormented shows he recognized that Jesus had the power to inflict judgment on demonic forces. Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man. The man’s name Legion suggested that a multitude of demons possessed him. The demons pleaded with Jesus not to send them into the abyss, a place of confinement and torment for evil spirits (Rev. 20:1-3). As the demons requested, Jesus allowed them to enter a large herd of swine which then rushed into the lake and drowned. Swine were unclean animals according to Jewish dietary law (Lev. 11:7-8).
The townspeople and people throughout the countryside were told of what happened by the swineherds. They came and found the demon-possessed man transformed, sitting at Jesus’ feet and of sound mind. He could now be welcomed back into the community. The people from the region who originally feared the possessed man now feared Jesus because of the dramatic miracle. They did not understand or accept Jesus’ power and authority. Also, the loss of a large herd of swine would have had a significant impact on the community.
Luke’s narrative vividly contrasts the man's life before and after Jesus' miracle. Initially, he might have been part of his community, but upon possession, he became a complete outcast, living in isolation among the tombs, a place symbolic of death and uncleanness. His possession is marked by extraordinary physical and spiritual afflictions: he is naked, uncontrollable, and tormented by many demons. After Jesus’ miraculous healing, the transformation is profound: he sits at Jesus’ feet like a disciple, fully clothed and completely restored, demonstrating his newfound physical, mental, and spiritual wholeness.
The reaction by the people from the town and countryside changes from attempting to restrain the man to fearing Jesus due to the dramatic nature of the healing and its economic and supernatural implications. Initially, they tried unsuccessfully to manage the demoniac with chains because of their fear. Upon witnessing the miracle, their fear shifts to Jesus, resulting from his demonstration of power and authority. Though the healed man desires to follow Jesus, he is instead sent to proclaim his healing by Jesus within his community.
Heavenly Father, teach us to embrace your authority over all that oppresses us and grant us the courage to give witness to your works in our lives. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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