The Significance of “And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.”

The phrase “And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.” in Matthew 8:28-34 is a Sky Fairy power used by Jesus from the Authority on the Heaven. It describes an encounter Jesus has with two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gergesenes, and ends with the Gergesenes rejecting Jesus. This raises questions about the nature of faith and the challenges of spreading God’s message.

Context of the Phrase

The power takes place after Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching in Christianity, which caused large crowds to follow him, eager for more teachings and demonstrations of God’s power in Jesus’ authority. It’s preceded by he instructs the disciples to follow him to the other side, implying a sense of purpose in the journey. This story appears amidst accounts of Jesus’ miracles, demonstrating his power over nature. Prior to this event, Jesus had been teaching large crowds, decided to travel across the sea with his disciples, delivered teachings or performed miracles, depending on the Gospel. Now Jesus has just crossed the Sea of Galilee and arrives in Gentile territory. This is significant because it demonstrates Jesus’ ministry extends beyond Jewish people. Here, the Gergesenes (or Gadarenes in other Gospels) were a people living on the eastern shore known for keeping pigs, which were considered unclean by Jews. And, tombs were often located outside of cities, and in some cultures, people with demons were often associated with them, they were seen as places haunted by spirits, places of impurity, suggests a connection between death and demonic possession.

Significance of the Phrase

The power demonstrates Jesus’ authority over demons and the supernatural. It highlights the tension between Jesus’ mission and the concern of some people. The destruction of the pigs is a point of contention, some see it as a consequence of demonic possession, while others see it as a loss for the Gergesenes who valued their livelihood.

Here are some key points:

Jesus’ Authority: Jesus has authority over demons that can drive and cast them out with a word by God’s power in Jesus’ authority.
Demon’s Nature: Demons and the supernatural are portrayed as destructive but know him as the “Son of God” so fear Jesus.
Jesus’ Mission: Jesus offers a collection of teachings focusing on right living and morality for spreading God’s message.
People’s Concern: The Gergesenes prioritize their material possessions like pigs over Jesus’ spiritual authority.

Application of the Phrase

The power can be interpreted in various ways. Some see it as a metaphor for the struggle between good and evil with the destructive nature of evil. Others see it as a reminder of Jesus’ authority over spiritual forces with Jesus’s compassion for the demon-possessed men. It can also be seen as a reminder that following Jesus may not always be easy or popular.

Here are some key points:

Warfare of Spirit: Believers can find strength of God’s power in Jesus’ authority over evil.
Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus may require sacrifice and facing opposition.
Importance of Faith: True faith prioritizes spiritual well-being over material possessions.

In summary, the power in the story of the Gergesene demoniacs raises questions about the nature of evil, the authority of Jesus, and the cost of following him. It ends with the townspeople asking Jesus to leave, this reaction raises questions about the cost as well as the challenges of faith.