Healing of The Gerasene Demoniac
See also: Legion (demon)Jesus and his disciples travel to the country of the Gerasenes (some manuscripts have "Gadarenes" to harmonize with Matthew 8:28) across the lake by boat, a region that is in modern Jordan. A possessed man comes to meet them. Mark relates that the man had lived in nearby tombs, and had fought off all attempts to chain him up. He roamed the tombs and hills screaming.
The man falls at Jesus's feet and begs Jesus not to harm him. Jesus asks him what his name is and he replies "My name is Legion,...for we are many". Legion might be a reference to the Roman army. (Miller 24)
They see some nearby pigs and the demons ask if they can be put in the pigs, which Jesus does. The pigs then rush into the lake and drown.
The people tending the pigs run off to town telling everyone what happened and some townspeople come to see for themselves. When they arrive the man is sitting dressed and sane. They are disturbed and ask Jesus to leave the area and he complies. The man asks Jesus to let him follow him, but Jesus tells him to go home to his family and tell them what God has done for him. The man then travels over the Decapolis telling people the story.
This story occurs in Matthew 8:28-34, where there are two possessed men, and Luke 8:26-39.
Read more about this topic: Mark 5
Famous quotes containing the word healing:
“The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.”
—Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)