Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 8:28-34
First you need to know that the region of the Gadarenes or Gerasene or Gergesenes (various translations) was an area of Galilee – on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Gadarenes were people from the little town of Gadara. All of these were names of residents of small villages located on the plain of Gennesaret. I really don't know which exact place this incident took place.
If you have ever lived in a small town, you know that sometimes people just lump you into the next larger town or area and don't delineate well. I'm originally from the little town of Manila, Arkansas – which is sometimes lumped with Buffalo Island, sometimes lumped with Mississippi County, and sometimes with Northeast Arkansas. But I'm still from Manila!
The first thing I note is that the demons knew exactly who Jesus was. They also knew exactly what God intended for them in the end. Satan and all his demons will be punished in Hell for all eternity. Here the demons asked Jesus if He came to start their punishment early. They knew His power. And they knew He was the boss.
Read Mark 5:1-20
How many men are mentioned in the Matthew account?
How many men are mentioned in the Mark account?
Since Matthew was most likely an eyewitness, I'm going to side with Matthew. I wonder if maybe only one of the men became a follower of Jesus which caused Mark and Luke (we'll look at Luke's account tomorrow) to only mention 1 man. We won't know until we get to heaven and ask!
Mark gives us more description about the man's misery. He also indicates that the man fell at Jesus' feet. But note, it was not to worship Him, but rather to beg for mercy.
Mark also tells us more about their being multiple demons living within the man. They had possessed him so that they spoke for him and controlled all his actions. How sad.
Did Jesus grant their request? And why?
I'm not sure why. I've heard various theories that indicate that the demons would have wandered around seeking a body to live in if He had not sent them into the pigs. Luke indicates that they were begging to not be thrown into Hell. Did the demons die when the pigs died? I don't know the answers to this. All I know is that the pigs inhabited by the demons ran off a cliff and died.
But Mark also tells us more details about what the man looked like after the demons left him. What is the description given?
When the people asked Jesus to leave, what did He do?
He left.
What happened to the healed man after Jesus left?