Mark 5:11-20
A Demon-Possessed Man Healed
(Matt. 8:28–9:1; Luke 8:26–39)
Mark 5:11-20 (NKJV) Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
V11 “Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.” Gentiles were the majority population in this area. The Bible Knowledge Commentary writes: “The Jews considered pigs “unclean” animals (cf. Lev 11:7). But the farmers on the east side of the Sea of Galilee with its predominantly Gentile population raised pigs for the meat markets in the Decapolis, “the 10 cities” of that region (cf. Mark 5:20).”
V12 “So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” They were desperate to inhabit somebody. They feared that Jesus would send them to the abyss. The abyss is also called the bottomless pit. It is a place with torment without rest. It is used 9 times in the New Testament. In the parallel passage of Luke 8:31 many translations use the word deep. It is mostly used in the Revelation. Interestingly it is used in Romans 10:7 “Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” In Jewish tradition, I believe, it is an area beneath Hades/Sheol. Hades is believed to have been 3 compartments. The highest was Paradise which had no torment, then Hades which is all called Gehenna (Mark 9:47 and Matthew 9:22, etc.).
V13 “And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.” Jesus gave a fitting permission—unclean spirits entering unclean animals. Yet, the pigs have better sense than most people and would rather die.
V14 “So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.” Since Decapolis was probably their major market, these swineherds were not pleased at their loss of income.
V15 “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.” The owners and people of the nearest city came to see the man whom they had often attempted to tame. After Jesus cast out the demons, Jesus healed the man’s mind. Now, the formerly demon-possessed man is in his right mind and clothed. Seeing the man, the residents of the area were afraid (Mark 4:41). Why? Perhaps it was that Jesus did what no other person could. The Greek word for afraid is (G5399) φοβέω phobéō, which means afraid even terrified. It can refer to reverence of God or fear in many senses.
V16 “And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.” They gave an honest answer.
V17 “Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.” They begged Jesus to leave the area. This seems very strange for surely they would have heard how Jesus can heal, thus, He would heal their sick. But the citizens of the area wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Some reasons could be financial loss (maybe other losses) and a disturbance of their religion and beliefs. Compare Job 21:14 and Luke 4:29.
V18 “And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that He might be with Him.” It is touching that this man would want to stay with Jesus forever, perhaps in fear of what might happen, or better, that he wanted to learn all he could from Jesus.
V19 “However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” Jesus did not allow his request because Jesus had a mission for him—to preach the Gospel by telling his story to people in the whole area.
V20 “And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” Hopefully, some repented and believed in Jesus.
We learn:
- Jesus seeks those who are lost.
- Jesus had absolute power over any and all.
- After salvation, we seek to be with Jesus for fellowship and service.
Questions:
- Have you ever wanted Jesus to leave you alone after a great blessing?
- After salvation, are you wishing to serve Jesus in any way He wants?