28 When Jesus came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way. 29 Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them. 31 The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!”

They came out, and went into the herd of pigs: and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea, and died in the water. 33 Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons. 34 Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.

Matthew 8:28-34 - World English Bible

Overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Gergesenes (also known as Gadarenes) was a site situated on a ridge that sloops gently to the east but steeply on three other sides. In the first century AD, the town on the site had military importance; it was a Roman outpost that defended the area against foreign intruders from the east. For a while, the town was part of the Roman designated Decapolis or "Ten Cities" region of Greek-Roman inhabitants. Hence, region was a hodge-podge of ethnic conclaves, Jewish, Greek and Roman.

Matthew modified Mark's narrative of the exorcism (Mark 5:1-9; also see Luke 8:26-39) by doubling the possessed. By turning one demonic into two, the evangelist sought to emphasize the veracity of the account; Jewish law required two witnesses to testify in court on a matter (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Implicitly, Jesus visited a Gentile area and addressed foreigners who were possessed; the request of the demons to inhabit the non-kosher pigs gave us a clue. Notice that demons saw the Lord as an invading force into their domain (Gentile territory and pigs); exorcism meant violence against evil spirits. When the pigs committed suicide (another sign of possession), the city came out and asked him to leave, since the destroyed herd meant a financial loss that could grow larger with the presence of the holy man.

The presence of Jesus does cause change. Evil flees and give virtue a chance to take root. The question he asks us is: do you want me to stay (as painful as that might be) or do you want me to go?

What do you ask of Jesus this day?