A Path To Sanity Through Swine

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 25 to study Luke 8:26-39, the account of the Gadarene Demoniac.  This account has parallels in Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-20, so be sure to read these as well.

Read through the account in Luke several times in as many different translations as you can.  Jot down notes and questions as you read through.  Then look at the different parallels, noting differences between them.  There are a lot of detail differences, so fearlessly think through them.  There are not a lot of easy answers to these differences, so if they bother you you're in good company.  Both Matthew and Peter (Mark's primary source) were present at the event, so it's not a matter of eyewitness or hearsay.

After you jot down your own notes and questions, look through a commentary or two.  They will have opinions about the differences, and may answer some of your questions.  But they will undoubtedly cause some additional questions as well.  That's okay, bring both sets to our group Thursday.

After all that, go back through with the questions below:

• Look at a map of Galilee, and see if you can find the various place names.  Where is "Galilee" as a place along a shore of the sea with the same name?  Can you find Gerasenes, or Gadarenes?  Which is it?  Do you see a town or place called Galilee opposite?
• One man (or two) run up to Jesus.  Whether he came from the city or tombs directly, he still hung out in the tombs.  Luke provides details about what he looks like and all about his violence, strength, and raving.  Imagine this scene in your mind.  What is everyone doing? 
• The man (or men) run up and bow before Jesus, but how do they sound?  What do you think this means that they bow (or prostrate) yet scream at Jesus?
• They are called "Legion".  What do you think this means for the man?  Why so many?
• There are pigs in the region.  Matthew points it out up front, Mark and Luke a little later.  This is still Galilee, and highly Jewish in population.  What do you think it means that these pigs were there?
• Mark and Luke say that Jesus was commanding them to come out of the man, but instead they argue with Jesus.  What do you think that means for both Jesus and this band of demons?  How can they resist Him like that?
• The demons negotiate with Jesus to go from the man into pigs.  We're not really told (or it's not explained) what the alternative might have been other than leaving the region.  Why do you think this would have been preferable for the demons?  Why do you think it would have been agreeable to Jesus?
• The pigs, once entered, destroy themselves in the Sea of Galilee.  Do you think this worked out for the demons or not?
• The herdsmen run off and tell the people of the area what happened.  We can assume that they are reporting what happened to the pigs rather than the man (from verse 35, yet see Matthew's account in 8:33).  If the towns people were so upset about the pigs, what does that tell you about them?
• What does it tell you about the people that they are more scared about the event than encouraged by the healed man?
• They ask Jesus to leave, and he doesn't argue, but starts immediately to get back into the boat.  What does that tell you about His purpose in being there at all?
• The man wants to go with Jesus.  Jesus "sends him away" instead, does not permit him. Why do you think Jesus refused so emphatically?
• Jesus sends the man back to his own people to testify of what God has done for him.  Yet the man declares Jesus as the One having saved him.  What do you think this means for the man's understanding of Jesus?

That should be plenty to keep us busy, along with parallel differences.  Remember to apply the principles of Awakening, Honesty, and Action to your study, questions, and observations.  What wakes you up to your own relationship with God?  What, if you're honest with yourself, do you believe God wants you to do or do different?

Blessings upon you until we see you again Thursday!