Why the Pigs?

Ever wonder why the demons begged to enter into the pigs?

(Mark 5:12)

In Mark chapter 5 we see the story of a demon possessed man. He was so violent that no one could keep him confined. Jesus comes along and decides to cast the demons out of him. Before He does, however, the demons BEG Jesus to be cast into a nearby herd of pigs. (Mark 5:12) Here lies a valuable pearl of wisdom that's too good to pass by. 

Demons prefer a host over roaming free. The Bible even alludes to this in Matthew 12:43-45 when it notes that when the demons roam and can't find a suitable place, they often return to where they feel welcomed. (And they seldom come back alone) Demons prefer a host because it's a hiding place. A place where they can operate in disguise. Making the people focus on the man, and not what's inside of the man. 

There is an in-depth reasoning why the demons didn't want to simply be cast out but cast INTO. By entering the host, the Bible alludes that it caused this man pain. (Mark 5:5-7) By entering the host, the Bible alludes that it kept the man in constant states of confinement. (Mark 5:4) By entering the host, the Bible alludes that it separated the man from his family, and all of society, keeping him in isolation. (Mark 5:3, 19) By entering the host, the Bible alludes that the man caused a great deal of trouble for the region which is why they constantly wanted to confine him. (Mark 5:3-4) It's amazing the damage demons can do when we give them a host isn't it? This is because they can't create, they can only manipulate 

Notice they begged not to leave the region as well? (Mark 5:10) This is an important part. They already knew the footholds of the people nearby, not just the man they possessed. They knew that by entering the 2,000 pigs and sending the herd off a cliff to drown them one by one would cause an economic decline for the region. That many pigs could possibly be worth more than 60 grand in today's modern world - which would be like an entire year's worth of a salary. This would also cause fear to arise as well, and this fear and loss would lead the people to be angry, and they wouldn't want Jesus there anymore. (Mark 5:17)

Demons want a host because they do more damage with one than alone. 

The Bible says the town folk were frightened when they saw the wild man in his right mind. (Mark 5:15) This is key. The had grown so comfortable with the demonic that freedom was scarier than their idea of controlled chaos. So even though Jesus had cast the demons out of the man tormenting the region, the region cast Jesus out for bringing a freedom that cost them something more than they were willing and ready to give up: their comfortability. comfortability will always cost you something. This is why Satan thrives off stagnant and why Jesus consistently calls us to change and growth. (2 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 2:2, Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 4:15)

The truth was the pigs was a strategic move to take Jesus away from an environment that was comfortable with the demonic activity, as long as it didn't threaten what they loved, or better yet idolized.