As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. (Mk 5,15)
This is an interesting story. The description of the man before meeting Jesus and after encountering Jesus gives the message of the story.
Before meeting Jesus:
- A man from the tombs (he is as good as a dead man)
- Had an unclean spirit (evil possessed)
- No one could restrain him (non – social)
- He was always crying out (no one could listen)
- and bruising himself with stones (hurting himself)
In short he was inhuman and his behaviour was non-human. He was dead, unsocial, non-communicative and (destructive)
This description (legion) meets Jesus, Son of the Most High God.
After encountering Jesus:
- He is clothed (cultured – humanly)
- sitting there (relaxed)
- in his right mind (having the ability to communicate)
He has become human.
So, meeting Jesus makes an inhuman into human. Jesus’ ministry is to make humans.
What about the destruction of the pigs? Pigs were unclean for the Jews and so for Jesus. Destruction of unclean is in no way a loss. It was only a gain. That is, evil is destroyed.
Here in this story evil is destroyed (which is not a loss) to gain a human person.
Jesus upholds and works for the humanity.
