Event 27 – The Healing of the Demoniac

Matthew 8:28-9:1a, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39

^L They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs, ^M so violent that no one could pass that way.

^L Many times the demon had seized him, and K no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot and ^L kept under guard, ^K but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet ^L and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

^M No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!”

For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ^L Because the demons had gone into him. ^M Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” they cried. ^L And they ^K Begged Jesus again and again not to ^L order them to go ^K out of the area ^L into the Abyss.

A large herd of pigs were feeding there ^K on the nearby hillside. They demons begged Jesus, ^M “If you drive us out, send us ^K among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out ^L of the man, ^K and went into the pigs. The ^M whole herd ^K about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

^L When those tending the pigs saw what had happed they ^M ran off, went into the town and reported all ^K this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, ^L from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured ^K and told about the pigs as well. Then ^L all the people of the region of the Gerasenes ^K began to plead with Jesus to leave their region ^L because they were overcome with fear.

^K As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed ^L from whom the demons had gone out ^K begged to go with him.

Jesus did not let him, but ^L sent him away, saying, “Return home ^K to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.”

So the man went away and began to tell ^L all over ^K the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.