The Traveling Preacher - Jesus Delivers the Demoniac

A preacher shares with some men in the crowd about the reason for his passion and faith in God. He tells of a man filled with evil spirits who meets Jesus and is forever changed by God’s healing power.

This story follows Mark 5:1–20. Parallel stories are found in Matthew 8:28–34 and Luke 8:26–39.

Pigs were considered unclean animals by the Jewish people because of food restrictions in Leviticus 11:7. Jesus declared all foods clean in the New Testament in Mark 7:14–23.

Decapolis means “ten cities” and refers to a group of towns east of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee during the time of Jesus.

In the Bible, those possessed by demons most often experienced physical troubles. When Jesus cast out the demons, their physical problems were also healed. Jesus has the power to heal all people from the inside out.

Questions to Consider:

1. How do you think the man’s mother and father felt when they saw him healed and in his right mind?
2. Do you think his family and friends came to believe in Jesus because of his healing?
3. Why do you think the people begged Jesus to go away from their region instead of being amazed at this healing?
4. What would you do if you saw Jesus heal a man like this?