18 – Demoniac Pigs

Luke 8 tells a somewhat odd story about a demon possessed man.

When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and although he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.

“What is your name?” Jesus asked him.

“Legion,” he said–because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.

A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. (Luk 8:27-34 HCSB)

There’s only one place on the east side of Galilee that has a steep cliff.

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And .. here it is.I’m surprised there’s no church or chapel to commemorate the event. They’ve got a Church of the Cock Crow, why not have a Church of the Demonic Pigs? Or maybe Church of the Suicide Pigs. Oh, well. At least the sunset is pretty.

(For more on this, be sure to see the movie clip section)

I’m guessing they say “sorry – no church here”. (actually, they’re about some battle)
As Israeli cliffs go, they’re less than impressive. But they’re the only steep cliffs in this area.