One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Jesus healing the Gerasene demoniac. It’s a beautiful picture of Jesus’ redemption. (See here)
But there is one question that always comes up with this story. It centers around Mark 5:13. Jesus casts the legion of demons out of the man, and they beg to be thrown into pigs. Here is what happens as a result:
“So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”
Why’d the pigs have to die? Doesn’t that seem a bit unnecessary to the story? Is it not cruel? And what about these farmers whose livelihood is now impacted by losing 2000 pigs?
I’ll offer an answer to that today. First, we have to see that this is meant to tell us something about the demonic.
What Does This Tell Us About Demons?
Mark sets this story right after Jesus calms the chaotic sea. Who is this man that he can bring calm to the meteorological chaos? How can He speak and calm the raging sea? Who is this guy?
And then Jesus steps onto the shore and is immediately met with more chaos. This time it isn’t the chaotic sea, it’s the chaos of a mind broken by demon possession. We see woven throughout this text that demons are destructive. They are also unbounded. Just as humanity seemed paralyzed at the raging sea, so now they are just as impotent against the unbridled power of the brokenness in this man.
What, then, do you think is going to happen to pigs if they are demon-possessed? Chaos. What happens when our enemy gets his way is chaos and destruction with the aim at dethroning God and destroying us. That is what God, through Mark, wants us to see here.
But it also tells us something about Jesus. When we see the previously broken man now clothed and in his right mind, it shows the power of Jesus. There was always a human in there somewhere. Some how the image of God remained—and Jesus threw back the chaos and pulled out the imago Dei.
It tells us about the beauty of redemption. But it also paints another picture as well.
What Does This Tell Us About Redemption?
It’s not only the demonic that can be destructive. Redemption can also be destructive.
It might help us to think about Luke here. He tells this story right after his parable of the soils. Consider the soils. What would need to happen for the seed to take root on the path? You’d have to plow it up. Hard hearts need broken up. You think that isn’t going to hurt? You think that isn’t going to bring some change and some tough questions. You better believe it will. The same is true with rock removal and eliminating a thorn bush. That’s going to be painful. It’s going to require sacrifice.
Why, then, does Mark tell us about the farmers response? Why not just let that little fact from history be buried? It’d be easier to just leave these at some random pigs. But Mark highlights the fear of the townspeople. Why?
It’s to highly a sad and painful aspect of the story. The townspeople are afraid of Jesus’ power. They are afraid of what it would mean and all that they might lose if they follow Jesus. Jesus is a farm wrecker. He’ll destroy your livelihood and kill your pigs.
That’s what the townspeople had to wrestle with. Those are the bare facts here. They see a guy who was so broken and so destructive that they had to treat him even lower than a pig. And now they see him clothed and in his right mind.
But his redemption was costly.
Is it worth it?
Is it more important for Jesus to be rescuing and restoring humanity and booting out all sin and unbelief of the kingdom OR your farm, economic prosperity, etc.? Do you want your thorn bush or the kingdom of God?
If they see the value in Jesus, they’ll invite him to stay. Burn it all to the ground, if you must! Whatever isn’t of the kingdom, then throw it over the cliffs. Tear down all that we’ve built with our hands. And rebuild it all for your glory.
The Holy Spirit, through His servant Mark, wants to confront us with that question. Would you boot Jesus out of your town?
Why’d the pigs have to die? Because that’s what the demonic does. And we need to know that. Humanity cast our lot with darkness and this is part of the consequence. We also need to know and see that redemption is costly. And we need to be pressed into those painful decisions. What’s more valuable? A pig farm or redemption?
What will you do with Jesus today?
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Photo source: here
