Mark 5:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In a contracted state, they may reside together in one location; in an expanded state, they can occupy every corner of existence. Notice how a thousand righteous can inhabit a single dwelling, just as countless qualities can coexist within one body. Even in a confined space, it is sufficient for them. Paradise, too, despite being filled with spiritual beings, offers abundant joy and satisfaction for all.

As the Gospel reveals, the fate of two thousand pigs serves to illustrate that the salvation of one soul is of paramount importance. The monk ought to focus not on the overwhelming abundance of sin in the world around him, but rather on the exemplary lives of the few saints. The entirety of Judea fell into captivity when Nebuchadnezzar arrived, leading thousands away to Babylon (cf. 2 Chron. 36:20). Among them, only Jeremiah remained steadfast in his faithfulness to God, though he too found himself thrown into a dreadful pit (Jer. 38:6). Nevertheless, the value of his soul surpassed that of an entire nation.

At times, he is permitted the right to tempt as part of a divine trial, or he instigates temptation on his own, as illustrated in the narratives of the patriarchs (cf. Job 1:12). Alternatively, a sinner may be handed over to him for judgment, akin to an executioner fulfilling a sentence, as was the case with Saul (1 Sam. 16:13-23).

Upon hearing of this event from the shepherds, the townspeople immediately urged the Lord to leave their region. He complied, yet He left behind the man who had been possessed by a legion of spirits as a messenger of His mercy. Yes! On other occasions, the Lord instructed His followers to forsake their homes and families to follow Him; now He instructs the healed man differently. Previously, He commanded silence concerning the healing; now He directs him to proclaim it. What implications does this action hold? Why did the Lord journey here? Was it merely to heal two demon-possessed individuals or to cost the city two thousand animals? What significance lies in the contrasting approaches regarding the healed man? This event serves as a parable; while its historical authenticity is unquestionable, it conveys a deeper meaning. Does not the healing of this man possessed by a multitude of spirits align with the healing of the deaf and mute demon-possessed man in Capernaum, which may have occurred only a day prior? If the Capernaum demoniac symbolizes the obstinate Jews and his healing represents the Lord's redemptive work among them, then the demoniac of Gadara, healed the day after Capernaum, symbolizes the eventual conversion of the Gentiles from the grasp of evil, among whom He will not personally preach but will send messengers. This parallels the prophet Jeremiah's action of burying his girdle by the Euphrates and later retrieving it (Jer. 13). By presenting parables to unveil mysteries, the Lord could impart special meanings to His deeds aside from their historical context. This is evidenced by the healing of the two demoniacs being interspersed with the parable of the kingdom of heaven, which was also to signal the preaching to the Gentiles. Therefore, the Lord commissioned the healed man to share his story rather than remain silent; this mission was among the Gentiles rather than the Jews. The demon-possessed man of Gerasenes symbolizes the Gentile world; he housed not just seven, but a legion of spirits, yet even they had to yield their domain to Jesus and retreat into the abyss, foreshadowing for His disciples. Moreover, it should be noted that the healing, which incited the ire of the Gadarene residents, contains the very words of the demons: “Why have you come to torment us before the appointed time?” This illustrates a refutation of any claim that the Lord acted in collusion with the spirits. The demise of the entire herd affirmed the demon-possessed man's declaration of possessing a legion within him, further reinforcing the Lord's independent stand against the forces of darkness and His immense power. Meanwhile, given the notoriety of the Gadarenes' healed man, news of this occurrence could have easily spread to Galilee. The sacrifice of the herd led to the gift of the preacher, and the display of power facilitated by this miracle empowered the testimony of the one blessed by God's grace. The loss of the swine could be seen in light of other severe acts of Divine Providence, resembling serious calamities. One could even argue that the Son of Man felt compelled to reveal His awesome nature to humanity. He did not come to earth for judgment, nor did He execute it during His time among us; He particularly refrained from allowing it among His own people. Hence, He chose to enter a pagan territory, used an animal despised by the Jews, and took advantage of encountering a demoniac to justify the Pharisees' earlier threat of retribution for their obstinate attitudes, which had emerged in response to their blasphemy during similar acts—healing the tormented, a situation parallel to that of a man possessed by many strong spirits (Mt. 12:43-45).

Moreover, it was Jesus’ intention to send the man who had been liberated back to his hometown as a witness to the miracle that had occurred. For this mission, it was essential that he firmly believed he had been completely released from the grip of evil; visible assurance was necessary. The request of the demons to enter the pigs, followed by the rapid and dramatic demise of the previously grazing herd, served to eliminate any uncertainty in the man’s mind regarding his true emancipation from the influence of evil spirits.

In response to the question regarding the loss incurred by the swine owners, we reflect on the words of Job: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away" (Job 1:21). Can the death of the pigs truly be seen as a loss? This incident ultimately drew the individuals from the nearby villages and town to Jesus; otherwise, they would not have encountered Him and might not have believed the man who returned, proclaiming his release from demons through the power of Christ. The faith that blossoms from their encounter, although not immediate, represents an immeasurable gain for the soul, far surpassing any financial loss from the pigs' demise. The earlier question is addressed with the added clarification that it was not the demons’ will that caused the pigs’ destruction. Some scholars suggest that the pigs, responding to an inherent sense of extraordinary new power, acted against the demons' control and leaped into the sea. We hold that it was indeed God's will for this to transpire.