Symptomology of a Demoniac

 So what if we took a different analysis of our Gospel Passage?  

How would Luke 8: 26-39 read as a observational report by a 'neutral' third party of the man's condition, our Lord Jesus, and their interactions?  I wrote 'neutral' in this fashion, because I have no neutral stance about Jesus.  For the purposes of this 'analysis', I call him the Messiah, because He is!

REPORT BEGINS

Initial Observation:  

The patient, Mr. L, was observed approaching the Messiah after we and his disciples arrived in the country of the Gerasenes.  We were ascending toward the city beyond, when he was spotted moving in an extensive graveyard of caves and tombs dug into the hillside.  When Mr. L appeared to notice the Messiah, he approached quickly.  From a distance, it appeared he wore brown clothing, but it became rapidly apparent that this was dirt, encrusting his entire body.  His approach was heralded by an impressive odor.

Background Information:  

On further interviews, it was determined that Mr. L had previously been a resident of the city.  However, he was presently diagnosed with ‘possession by an evil spirit’¹ (subsequently referred to as ‘demonic possession’).  Between moments of apparent lucidity, the ‘demon’ would take over and drive Mr. L into the wilds surrounding the city.  Local law enforcement and health officials who were interviewed indicated that Mr. L had been captured and taken into custody on a number of occasions.  For his own safety and the safety of those around him, he was kept under guard and restrained.  Restraint levels were continually increased as none were able to adequately bind Mr. L when he was ‘possessed’.  Local officials showed iron shackles and chains² that had been broken by Mr. L when ‘possession’ overtook him.  The iron was twisted and stained with dried blood where Mr. L had broken free.  At length, it was deemed impossible to keep Mr. L contained safely within the city and attempts at capture and restraint were discontinued.  Since then, Mr. L, has taken up residence among the tombs of the graveyard.

 Behavioral Observations:

1.     When first approaching the Messiah, Mr. L, apparently by means of his ‘demonic entity’, his possessing entity, identified the Person (it called him Jesus by name), and the Divinity (it called him Son of the Most High God specifically) of the Messiah. 

2.     The ‘demonic entity’ expressed fear and submission to the exorcism³ performed by the Messiah.

3.     The ‘demon entity’ challenged the Messiah that He was bringing torment upon the ‘demonic entity’ by these actions.

4.     Upon direct command of the Messiah, the ‘demonic entity’ would self-identify as Legion, further self-identifying as a plurality of ‘demonic entities’⁴. 

5.     The ‘demonic entities’ known as Legion demonstrated a phobic-level fear response of being ordered into ‘the abyss’⁵.

6.     Legion begged the Messiah instead to ‘transfer’ possession to a herd of pigs that were grazing nearby. 

7.     Apparently upon being possessed by the ‘demonic entities’, the pigs reacted by racing en masse into the Sea of Galilee, destroying themselves in the process⁶.

After action report:

In regard to Mr. L:  He was restored to full coherence.  He returned to his home in the city, returned to wearing clothes, all symptoms of the ‘demonic possession’ removed.  He requested to become an active follower of the Messiah in the aftermath but was refused.  Rather, the Messiah requested he remain a witness 'in place'.  It has been reported that Mr. L has become an outspoken champion of the Messiah.

In regard to the local witnesses:  Based on the attestation of the eyewitnesses, Mr. L was accepted back into the community, returning to his home and livelihood in the Gerasenes.  However, the destruction of the pig herd caused a fear response in the wider community.  It became so widespread that the Messiah was asked to remove himself from their midst as a result of the incident (the curing of Mr. L notwithstanding).

NOTES:

¹ Often, ‘evil spirit’ and ‘demon’ are being treated as synonymous.  However, in the gospel literature, it is possible to argue that a distinction is made at the time of the Messiah between these as separate conditions.  In this case, the evidence points to the more precise designation of 'demonic possession'.

² The physical evidence of the ‘demonic possession’ is consistent with a condition in which the pain receptors in Mr. L were either disconnected or ignored due to the possession.  There are several other conditions, including the ingestion of PCP, which result in similar ‘disconnections’ which permit the individual to exhibit ‘supernatural’ strength or endurance.  It is more likely that these displays are simply the extremes of human capacity when natural safeguards to protect the body from excess are not functional. 

³ In this case ‘exorcism’ should not be confused with media presentations of church-type rituals for the removal of demons.  Rather, there is the recognition of the ‘demonic entity’ of the Messiah, a recognition of the Messiah’s divine purview and power.  There was no ritual involved as we might recognize it.  Rather, the Messiah ordered the ‘demonic entity’ and it was compelled-although with the capacity to bargain-to obey by the simple authority of the Messiah.

⁴ It was impossible to establish an actual number of ‘demonic entities’ in this instance, however, Legion, as a Roman military unit, could indicate between 5000 and 6000.

⁵ ‘The abyss’ is common terminology to refer to the abode of demons, including Satan and the other named demonic beings.  In Roman mythology, it primarily represents ‘Tartarus’, the pit and prison for the wicked and those who ‘offend’ the Roman deities.  It is also differentiated from ‘Hades’ which is more broadly the realm of the dead in Roman mythology.

⁶ It is impossible to conclude whether these pigs, in the throes of possession, became uncontrolled to the point of blindly rushing into destruction; or Legion took some kind of control and intentionally drove the pigs to their destruction.  If the fear of ‘the abyss’ is to be accounted into the situation, is it possible that killing their host entity allowed Legion to avoids ‘returning’ to ‘the abyss’?

REPORT CONCLUDES

We are a culture that is obsessed with the supernatural.  The supernatural exists in the Gospel.  I hope moving our focus a little at how we read the Biblical passage might bring some new perspective to us.  Even more, an even deeper appreciation of the simple, total power of our Lord Jesus.

Peace,
Pastor Pete