A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
Questions are often raised when we read these verses. Why would Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs? Some answers are: 'pigs are unclean so it did not matter if they died.
Jews are superior to Gentiles so it is ok to treat them inferior and not respect their beliefs.'
It is always interesting that we often interpret situations through our own perspectives but here is another take on these verses. In a parallel passage, Matthew 8:29, the demons said to Jesus, 'Have you come to torment us before the appointed time?'
The demons know that a time is coming when they will be destroyed and they have a very good idea when that time is. It was obvious to them that this was not the appointed time.
Jesus knew he was going to cast the demons out of this man, he also knew that it would do no good to cast the demons out and into the village as they would be free to enslave other people in the region.
The solution was the herd of pigs, not the pig herders. The power of these demons was shown when the pigs ran straight down the steep bank into the lake.
Jesus not only gave the demon- possessed man back his life but saved the whole village from a legion of roving demons.
To be continued...
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