The SKV

Mark 5

And they came to the other side of the Sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. And coming out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him from the graves. He had his home in the graves. And no one was able to bind him not even a chain. Because often he had been bound feet and chains and the chains and feet impediments were pulled off by him and broken and no one was strong enough to control him. And always night and day he was shouting and beating himself with stones among the graves and in the mountains. And seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him and shouting with a loud voice, he said, "What is between me and you, Jesus son of the Most High God? I command you by God, do not torture me!" For he said to him, "Come from the man, unclean spirit!" And he asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "My name is Legion for we are many." And he begged him much in order that he not send him from the region. But there was a great herd of pigs feeding on the mountain. And they begged him, saying, "Send us to those pigs so that we might go into them." And he allowed them. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs and the herd, about 2000, rushed toward the bank to the sea, and they drowned in the sea. And the herdsmen fled and reported to the city and the fields. And the people came to see what is happening. And they came to Jesus and looked at the demoniac sitting down, dressed and sensible, who had the legion and they were frightened. And those who had seen told them how it happened to the demoniac and about the pigs. And they began to beg him to leave from their territory. And he was embarking on the boat, the demoniac begged him to come with him. And he did now allow him, but he said to him, "Go to your home to yours and report to them everything the Lord has done for you and had mercy on you. And he went away and began to announce in Decapolis all Jesus had done to him and everyone marveled.

Jesus and the twelve crossed the Sea to the land of Gerasene. As soon as Jesus left the boat, an insane man met him. This was a man who made his home in the cemetery, and no one could bind him to take him to the hospital. They had tried to put on a straight jacket and bind him with handcuffs, but he broke off all impediments and no one was strong enough to subdue him. And he would shout all day and all night, beating himself against the rocks of the hills. He spied Jesus from afar and ran up to him and honored him by bowing down. Jesus commanded the spirits, “Come out of the man!” but he responded, “What do you have against me, Jesus, Son of the Highest God? I implore you, don’t torture me!” Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Horde, for we are numerous.” He begged him not to exile them from this land. They noticed a huge herd of pigs feeding on the hillside, so the spirits cried out, “Command us to go to the pigs and we will enter them.” So Jesus permitted it. So the unclean spirits left the man and entered the two thousand pigs, who immediately rushed down the slope and downed in the sea.
The caretakers of the pigs fled and told everyone they met about the incident, in both town and field. Those who heard came to see what was happening. As they came to Jesus, they saw the insane man, sitting, neatly clothed and sensible and they were scared to death. Those who had seen the incident told the whole story about the insane man and the pigs. And the Geraseans asked Jesus to leave the region.
As Jesus was getting back on the boat the formerly insane man begged him to allow him to depart with him. Jesus said, “No, but you go back home and tell your family and friends everything God has done for you and how He had mercy on you.” So the man left and told all who he met in his whole country what Jesus had done for him and everyone was amazed.

posted by Steve Kimes @ 7:37 PM