Christ Among The Gadarenes

[Mark Beesley]

I was reading in Mark 5 recenlty where Christ heals a possessed man of a legion of devils, and allow them to enter into a nearby herd of swine. A couple of things struck me as rather interesting.

First, when Christ confronts Legion, He tells them to leave the man they have possessed. What ensues is a rather short negotiation. The devils ask for permission to possess the herd of swine, and Christ gives them leave to do so. I just found it rather interesting that Christ was amenable in any way to such a negotiation. I haven't come to any definitive conclusion as to why, but preliminarily I wonder if it was in order to provide a lesson illustrating just how valuable a mortal body is. Or was it something more? I don't know.

Second, and this is something I have had a question about for some time and have not found an answer that resonates with my Spirit, is why would Christ allow the devils to do something which destroyed the personal property of someone else. Some commentators suggest the swine herd was an affront to Israel because of the prohibition to consume pork. That doesn't work for me for a couple of reasons. The swine were in the region of Gadara, one of the cities of the Decapolis, settled by Greeks. They were not Israelites, not subject to the Law of Moses, and there was not anything wrong with them raising pigs. In addition, the Law of Moses only prohibited the consumption of pork, but swine could have been raised for reasons other than food. And finally, as I understand it, Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses, teaching that not that which one consumes defiles the man, but rather that which proceeds forth from the mouth is defiling.

Mind you, I am not saying that Christ was wrong in what He allowed. As BRM put it, since Christ did it, it was right. (Rather a lame argument standing alone with no other justification.) But I would like to understand some rationale for what seems like an otherwise waste of property.

I would be interested in any insight any of you might have had as you have pondered this material.

[blackstrap]

In re-reading the story in Mark 5, I have a couple of problems with the statements made. The swine refered to were free range kept on the mountains in the area. It refers to those who "fed" the swine.That would mean they were kept in an enclosure.There is a contradiction here. Also the number of swine seems very high.Unless swine are in a modern industrial situation there is no way to herd 2000 pigs in a small area. They will destroy the pastured area very quickly in those numbers. Normally pigs are ranged at about 100-200 per square mile. Pigs will move enmass on occasion but they are not like sheep in that where one goes the rest follow. Pigs are more independent and when frightened will scatter in all directions.There remains the idea that there were enough demons in the man to inhabit all the pigs. one per pig = 2000 demons. Now a legion of Rome could have some 6000 soldiers. That means 3 demons per pig. Then again there is no reason that a few pigs could have been infected and the rest went along for a run,but that is unlikely. I consider this story to be,let's just say enhanced.This does not address the OP however.

Edited October 25, 2011 by blackstrap

[ldsfaqs]

I would say the reason Christ said it was okay to enter the swine is because demons in an animal likely have no effect on the animal.

I would think that human beings are different than animals because we can consciously control and use our bodies, not simply by instinct, thus when a demon possesses us they can control the environment, our bodies etc. In contrast to an animal, especially lower forms like a pig, operates entirely by instinct, thus not controllable. A demon in a pig might just be housed, not able to do any harm.

Of course, just speculating

[ERayR]

I would say the reason Christ said it was okay to enter the swine is because demons in an animal likely have no effect on the animal.

I would think that human beings are different than animals because we can consciously control and use our bodies, not simply by instinct, thus when a demon possesses us they can control the environment, our bodies etc. In contrast to an animal, especially lower forms like a pig, operates entirely by instinct, thus not controllable. A demon in a pig might just be housed, not able to do any harm.

Of course, just speculating

I don't know but as I remember it the swine ran into the sea and were drowned. That seems like a serious affect to me.

[The Nehor]

In addition, the Law of Moses only prohibited the consumption of pork, but swine could have been raised for reasons other than food.

They're out on the farm doing secretarial work?