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Legion of Demons

Bible claims that Jesus performed many miracles. In reality, however, without the cooperation and timely help of demons, Jesus wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Let us begin with the one mentioned in Luke 8:26-32 “Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the most high god? I beg you, do not torment me!” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.”

First of all, why should the demons come towards Jesus as soon as he got out of the boat? It looks like the demons were waiting for his arrival. The very first declaration of the head of the demons is, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” If the demon knew it had nothing to do with Jesus why did it go to Jesus? So, he did not come to ask what have I to do with you, instead to call Jesus ‘Son of the most High God’ in front of Jesus’ disciples. This points to a drama not a miracle.

The demon-possessed man was living in the tombs. Jesus is still in the water just getting out of the boat. But When Jesus was getting out of the boat the demon was in front of Jesus. So when Jesus was travelling in the boat the demon was also travelling from his tomb to the shore and the demon knew exactly where and when he would meet Jesus. How weird!

The demon also said ‘I beg you, do not torment me!’ Again, if the demon was so afraid of being tormented by Jesus why did it go to meet Jesus? This indicates the actual reason behind this demon hurrying to meet Jesus was not that he was afraid of Jesus but to perform a drama before Jesus’ disciples to make them believe in Jesus.

The bible says, Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. If this is true then why the little devil did not obey his master’s command? Why is it being stubborn that it would only leave the man in front of the disciples?

Bible says, Jesus had told the demon to come out of the man. But bible also says Jesus didn’t even know the name of the demon that he was talking to. Nor did he know how many demons had possessed the man: ‘Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” The demon answered “Legion,” (legion is defined as ‘a very large number’ by Merriam Webster’s). As we know Legion is not a proper name the demon was not revealing his name to Jesus. Instead it was simply letting Jesus know that he is not alone, that is to say, Jesus didn’t know that the man was possessed by lots of demons. Jesus does not know the name of the demon he is talking to but the demon knew it was talking to Jesus: “Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

The demons made a request to Jesus to permit them to enter the herd of pigs. Do these demons really need permission from Jesus to enter and possess someone? Then how did they possess the man? Was that also happening with the knowledge of Jesus? However, Jesus immediately granted them permission and thereafter the demons entered the pigs and killed them all.

It looks as if this massacre was something that could have been prevented by Jesus. However, ‘the son of god’ seems to favour the demons than the animals. There can be many reasons for this. For example, it could be that the demons were pretending that they need Jesus’ permission to enter and possess even animals. What they intend to gain would be, that the disciples when seeing all this would put faith in Jesus. If this is the case, then Jesus cannot refuse the request of the demons. For if refuse permission they would still enter the pigs ignoring the order of Jesus. Then the disciples would have witnessed the defeat of Jesus and this in turn would weaken their faith. This is why Jesus immediately agreed to their request. This in turn gave Jesus such an image among the disciples that without his permission even the demons could not do anything.

The story continues: “When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8: 34-40)