Lentera Takjub – The night before the miracle, the Sea of Galilee was restless. The winds howled, and waves crashed violently against the boat carrying Jesus and His disciples. As they struggled against the raging storm, fear gripped their hearts.
But then, Jesus stood. With nothing but His voice, He commanded the storm to be still. And in an instant, the waters obeyed. The sea, once roaring with chaos, now lay silent under the moonlight.
The disciples, still breathless, whispered among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and the waves obey Him?”
But the storm on the sea was nothing compared to the storm that awaited them on land.
The Cursed Land of the Tombs
As the boat reached the shore of the Gerasenes, an eerie silence filled the air. This was a land shunned by many—where the dead were buried, and where something far worse was rumored to dwell.
Then, from the darkness of the tombs, He appeared.
A man—no, a creature—covered in filth, his body scarred from countless wounds. His hair was wild, his eyes burning with a madness beyond human understanding. Chains, broken and rusted, dangled from his wrists and ankles, proof of the many times people had tried to restrain him. But no chain could hold him.
The possessed man let out a scream—a sound so inhuman that it sent shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
And then, he ran toward Jesus.
A Clash Between Light and Darkness
The disciples braced themselves, expecting an attack. But instead, the man fell to his knees before Jesus, his face twisted in agony.
From his lips, a voice not his own thundered through the air:
“What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that You won’t torture me!”
The voice was layered, unnatural—many voices speaking as one. The presence of Jesus burned them like fire.
Jesus, standing tall and unshaken, gazed at the tormented soul before Him. With a voice filled with power, yet laced with compassion, He asked, “What is your name?”
A guttural cry erupted from the man’s throat.
“Legion,” the voice rasped. “For we are many.”
Indeed, this was no ordinary possession. This man was not taken by one demon, but by an army—thousands of wicked spirits that had turned his body into their prison.
The Final Plea
The demons trembled, knowing they could not stand against Him. They had seen His power. They had seen how the storm itself bent to His will. And now, they begged.
“Send us into the pigs! Let us enter them!” they pleaded.
Jesus gave a single nod.
At once, the demons fled from the man, their shrieks piercing the night. A nearby herd of two thousand pigs suddenly convulsed and squealed in terror, before stampeding down a steep hill—rushing into the sea, where they drowned.
And then… silence.
For the first time in years, the man opened his eyes—and they were clear. No longer clouded with madness. No longer filled with torment. He was free.
The Aftermath
When the people of the town arrived, they found the once-possessed man sitting at Jesus’ feet—clothed and in his right mind.
Fear gripped them.
They had seen the power of darkness in that man, but now, they saw a power far greater standing before them.
And yet, instead of welcoming Jesus, they begged Him to leave. They were more afraid of His power than they were of the demons that once plagued them.
As Jesus turned to leave, the freed man ran after Him.
“Lord, let me come with You!” he pleaded.
But Jesus smiled and said, “Go home to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
And so, the man—once bound by darkness—became a messenger of light.
*This story is based on the accounts found in John 3:1-21, Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39, as well as various archaeological studies and literature about the Decapolis region, which includes Gerasa (now Jerash in Jordan).
A Lesson for Us
This story is more than just an exorcism; it is a battle between light and darkness. It shows us that no force—no matter how powerful or terrifying—can stand against Jesus.
It also reminds us that sometimes, people fear change more than they fear evil. The townspeople had lived so long with darkness that when true power and salvation arrived, they rejected it.
But for the man who was freed? His life was forever changed. He became a living testimony of Jesus’ mercy and authority.
And so must we.
No matter how broken we are, no matter how strong the chains of sin or suffering may be, Jesus has the power to set us free.
We only need to come to Him.