Matthew 8:28-34
28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
The account of Jesus casting the Legion of demons out of the men and into the herd of pigs is the most vivid, detailed account of Jesus’ interactions with the demons in the Bible. The other Evangelists record the superhuman strength of the possessed man, along with the violence he displayed toward himself and others. But Jesus did not have to fight against the demons. He stood as the Almighty God, unthreatened and unafraid. Indeed, the demons were the ones who cowered in fear of Him, because they knew who He was and that He had the power to torment them even then, before the Last Judgment, when He will cast them into the everlasting fire, prepared originally, not for men, but for unclean spirits like these.
In their fear and desperation not to be cast immediately into hell, they begged to be cast into a herd of swine, and Jesus granted their request. The pigs drowned, and, apparently, the demons were free to go back to “going through dry places, seeking rest” (Matt. 12:43). Why would He grant this request, or any request on their part? Perhaps because Jews had no business keeping unclean animals in the first place. Perhaps as a sobering reminder that God is not yet ready to rid the world entirely of the devil’s assaults. In any case, Jesus’ sovereign power and authority are highlighted for us. That power caused the people of that region to fear Him and to want to be rid of Him. But for those who have been baptized into His name, it gives the greatest comfort. Not even a legion of demons can touch us, as long as we are close to Him.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus, be ever our mighty Defender against the crafts and assaults of the devil! Amen.
