The above opening words – “but it came to be in fact on one day also” – connect this incident in the life of Jesus with the immediately preceding event recorded by Luke. Info BB. That included this statement – “But his mother and brothers came near to him, and they were not able to attain togetherness with him through the crowd….”
“Togetherness with him.” Jesus then said - “My mother and my brothers are these – the ones hearing and doing the word of God.” Does the incident above describe what this relationship may look like in practice – during the time when disciples are coming “across into the other side”? Storms. Floundering. But “the winds and the waters” “respond to” his “commands”.
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And they sailed down into the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. But he himself having come out upon the earth, a certain man from the city, having mini-gods, met him. Also, for an acceptable time, he was not clothed in a garment, and he had not stayed in a house instead in the tombs. But, seeing Jesus, he cried out and, falling before him, said in a great voice, “What – to me and to you? Jesus, Son of the Highest, of God. I plead to you that you may not torment me.” Because he had ordered the unclean one, the spirit, to come out from the man. Because many times it had seized him and, guarded, he was bound with chains and shackles and breaks the bonds, being driven by the mini-god into the wildernesses. But Jesus questioned him, “What is your name?” But he said, “Legion,” for many mini-gods had come into him. And they encouraged him so that he might not instruct them to come away into the abyss. But a herd of acceptable pigs was feeding there on the mountain, and they encouraged him so that he might permit them to come into these and he permitted them. But the mini-gods, coming out from the man, came into the pigs, and the herd stampeded down the precipice into the lake and were suffocated. But the herding men, seeing what had come to be, fled and messaged it out into the city and into the fields. But people came out to see what had come to be, and they came to Jesus and found the seated man, from whom the mini-gods had come out, clothed and sober-minded near the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid. But those who had themselves seen reported to them how the one having mini-gods was saved. And all the multitude of the neighbouring region of the Gerasenes asked him to come away from them, for they were held down in great fear.
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Having set the scene that “togetherness with him” would be the situation in which his disciples would live down here, Jesus showed them his mission “having come out upon the earth.” A “Legion” – a Roman military term – usually numbered 6,000 men. They were trained to be merciless winners. This man had vastly more than his share.
Jersus’ mission was to provide release from those “many demons”. The Gerasenes “seeing what had come to be” decided that they preferred to continue with “pigs” and therefore without Jesus. As everywhere on earth, the “many demons” in humanity would continue to wreak havoc.
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But he himself, getting into a boat, returned. But the man from whom the mini-gods had come out pleaded to be with him, but Jesus set him free, stating, “Return into your house! And be describing in full what God has done in you!” And he went away, announcing throughout the whole city all the things Jesus had done in him.
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