When the demons enter into the swine, the entire herd stampedes down a steep place
and are drowned in the lake below.
and are drowned in the lake below.
The swine herders run into the city and surrounding country, alerting the locals to
what has just occurred. Everybody rushes out to see for themselves...when they
arrive on the scene - there is Jesus. And the man who was formerly possessed by
the devils is sitting beside him, clothed and in his right mind!
what has just occurred. Everybody rushes out to see for themselves...when they
arrive on the scene - there is Jesus. And the man who was formerly possessed by
the devils is sitting beside him, clothed and in his right mind!
You would think the Gadarenes would be delighted and grateful for this visitation
from God, and for the poor soul in their midst which has been delivered. Instead, their
reaction is quite the opposite. Fear, greed, and selfishness influence their judgment
and the overall consensus is that Jesus is not welcome in their community. He is
formally asked to leave the area.
from God, and for the poor soul in their midst which has been delivered. Instead, their
reaction is quite the opposite. Fear, greed, and selfishness influence their judgment
and the overall consensus is that Jesus is not welcome in their community. He is
formally asked to leave the area.
Here, I exercise a little artistic license in my interpretation of the Gadarene
townspeople and their reaction to the situation. The owner of the herd of swine
points to a bag of money and asks Jesus if he has any idea how much revenue he
has caused them to lose by destroying the swine. Standing behind him in the
orange dress is his irate wife. Next to him, the village elder gives Jesus a piercing
glare for disrupting the economic base of their locale. His wife, her hand on his
shoulder, stares disdainfully at Jesus and the newly healed man.
A swine herder gestures angrily with his staff, frustrated because his livelihood
has disappeared before his eyes. His elderly father peers out from behind him, and
his elderly mother clenches her fists in fury because their son supported them. A
young child, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, attempts to play peek-a-boo
with Jesus and the Gadarene. Others in the crowd stare in disbelief at the newly
healed man. Like many civil gatherings, quite a few have just come with a "mob
mentality" to add what fuel they can to the controversy. They are impervious to the
greedy, selfish spirit right in their midst that so influences their attitude -
personified by the swine spirit who is part of their assembly!
townspeople and their reaction to the situation. The owner of the herd of swine
points to a bag of money and asks Jesus if he has any idea how much revenue he
has caused them to lose by destroying the swine. Standing behind him in the
orange dress is his irate wife. Next to him, the village elder gives Jesus a piercing
glare for disrupting the economic base of their locale. His wife, her hand on his
shoulder, stares disdainfully at Jesus and the newly healed man.
A swine herder gestures angrily with his staff, frustrated because his livelihood
has disappeared before his eyes. His elderly father peers out from behind him, and
his elderly mother clenches her fists in fury because their son supported them. A
young child, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, attempts to play peek-a-boo
with Jesus and the Gadarene. Others in the crowd stare in disbelief at the newly
healed man. Like many civil gatherings, quite a few have just come with a "mob
mentality" to add what fuel they can to the controversy. They are impervious to the
greedy, selfish spirit right in their midst that so influences their attitude -
personified by the swine spirit who is part of their assembly!
The apostolic record tells us the healed man begged Jesus to let him go with him.
(Judging by the looks of the crowd, can you blame him?) Jesus does not permit him
to join him, instead telling him to , "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how
great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" and,
"Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee."
The record in Luke indicates he published (or proclaimed) his deliverance
throughout the whole city, and Mark seems to confirm the man carved out a
mission field in Decapolis to tell of the great things Jesus had done for him -
and his testimony was powerful..."all men did marvel."
(Judging by the looks of the crowd, can you blame him?) Jesus does not permit him
to join him, instead telling him to , "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how
great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" and,
"Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee."
The record in Luke indicates he published (or proclaimed) his deliverance
throughout the whole city, and Mark seems to confirm the man carved out a
mission field in Decapolis to tell of the great things Jesus had done for him -
and his testimony was powerful..."all men did marvel."
But don't take my word for it! Read it for yourself in the King James Version
Book of Mark, Chapter 5, and Luke Chapter 8
Book of Mark, Chapter 5, and Luke Chapter 8
BETTER STILL-LISTEN TO AUDIO scroll to the books
Here for Mark Here for Luke
Here for Mark Here for Luke
| Panel 4 "The Righteous Rejoice... The Wicked Flee" |
| Panel 5 "Restoration and Fellowship" |
| Panel 6 "Rejection of the Presence and Counsel of God" |
| Worlds Bible Gallery created by Ohio Bible Artist Trenét Worlds © 2012 MultipleWorlds Media All Rights Reserved |