“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 was about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea” (Mark 5:11-13; also, Matthew 8:30-32; Luke 8:32-33). 

This happened in the country of Gadarenes or Gerasenes (Mark 5:1 cf. Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:26).  Why the two place names?  Caleb Colley explains, “Matthew, Mark and Luke were writing of the same general.  The Roman city Gerasa was a famous city that would have been familiar to a Gentile audience, but Gadara, as the capital city of the Roman province of Perea was the chief of the ten cities in Decapolis, so even those who lived in Gerasa could have been called Gadarenes… It is clear that Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not contradict each other… In this instance, each writer intended to draw attention to an area close to the Sea of Galilee” (Caleb Colley, Did Jesus Go to Gerasa or Gadara?, apologeticspress.org).  Albert Barnes explains, “There is no contradiction… in the evangelists.  He came into the region in which two cities were situated, and one evangelist mentioned one, and the other another” (The Gospels, p. 91, comments on Matthew 8).  We should understand that Decapolis was ten Greek/Roman cities; This area was predominately gentile.     Here are some things that are clear from the Biblical text: (1) Jesus was recognized by demons (Matthew 8:29).  (2) Demons understood that there would be a coming time of torment for them (Matthew 8:29 cf. Luke 8:28, 31). (3) Jesus demonstrated great power.  At his word, a legion of demons were cast out (Matthew 8:30-31 cf., Mark 5:9-13; Luke 8:30-33).  (4) Some people have wrong priorities (Matthew 8:33-34).  They prioritize pork over people, swine over salvation, sausage over the Savior. 

Why did the demons ask to enter the swine?  We don’t know for sure.  Here are some possibilities which have been suggested: (1) It may be that they desired to inhabit bodies (cf. Luke 11:24-26).  This seems to have merit.  If so, why did these demons kill the swine?  It is possible that they did not intend to do so.  (2) It may be that they wanted to cause harm.  Physical and mental harm is associated with demon possession (cf. Mark 5:5; 5:13; 9:22).  (3) It may be that this was done to turn people against Jesus.  If this were intended, it had some success (cf. Mark 5:17). 

Why did Jesus grant their request?  Once again, we don’t know.  Here are some possibilities which have been suggested: (1) He may have wanted to demonstrate the real presence of these evil demons.  This was not the case of a mere deranged mind.  Roy Lanier Sr. commenting on Mark 5 wrote, “I am not a physician, but I do not know of any human disease which could so quickly be contracted by hogs that would cause the hogs to jump into the sea” (Lanier, 20 Years of the Problem Page, Vol. 1, p. 124).  (2) He may have wanted to expose the true nature of evil.  It leads to distress and destruction.  (3) Some have suggested that this was allowed for punishment.  It is thought, by some, that the owners or keepers of the swine may have been Israelites.  However, this is far from certain.  This area was associated with gentiles.  (4) Some have suggested that Jesus allowed this to expose the improper priorities of the people of that area. They certain had improper priorities. However, it is not clear that this is the reason. (5) Moreover, some suggest that he may have wanted to show that it wasn’t Israel alone who rejected him; gentiles did as well (assuming these were gentiles, which is possible but not certain).  However, it is not clear that this is the reason.  

Lessons

One: Jesus wanted the healed man to do something after being healed.  He said, “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” (Mark 5:19).  We are told, “And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled” (Mark 5:20).  We are to do the same (1 Peter 2:9-10; Acts 8:4).           

Two: Jesus had power over evil.  He had power to heal the demon possessed.  He also had power to heal us of sin (Matthew 9:4-7; 26:28; Acts 2:36-38; 1 John 1:7).