Legion and the Swine

“And also this parable give I unto you: Not a few who meant to cast out their devil, went thereby into the swine themselves” (Nietzsche-” Thus Spake Zarathustra/Chasity)

That certainly gives reason for pause. Nietzsche comes out of nowhere with a parable, a recommendation that obviously has its roots in a parable from the Bible about Jesus, a legion of devils, and a herd of swine. And it’s good advice too. Let’s explore this deeper, a lot deeper. But first let’s look at the original Bible parable and then we’ll dive into what Nietzsche wrote.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the parable about Jesus, a legion of devils, and swine. Each version varies slightly but all have a consistent message and moral.

The parable consists of Jesus sailing across the sea of Galilee to the country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes in Matthew). There Jesus encounters a man who lives in the tombs (graves) and is possessed of devils. The man wore no clothing, would yell and scream insanely and incessantly, and would cut himself with stones. This man was, “exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way” (Matthew 8:28). No chains and fetter couldn’t constrain him.

But something interesting happens when this demon possessed man sees Jesus. You would think that he would either try to escape from His presence or go on the offensive and attack Him. Instead, the man runs right up to Jesus, falls at His feet and says, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29).

Mark and Luke make no reference to, “before the time”. Notice how the possessed man uses the plural, “us” when referring to himself.

Before the time is an allusion to the end time of all time. Even the devils know that their time is limited. They know who Jesus is and out of respect call Him by His proper title, “Son of God”. They know His purpose and what is going to happen when the last soul commits to Christ.

Jesus asked the man what his name was. He replied, “My name is Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9).

The word Legion comes from the Greek, “legeon”. It is derived from the root word, “lego” meaning “to choose”. In the Roman Empire during this time, a Legion consisted of anywhere between 4,200 to 6,000 soldiers. What this means when this man said his name was Legion, is that he was possessed by several thousand of Satan’s chosen demons. They were the elite from Hell.

The Legion of elite demons know Jesus is going to cast them out, so they ask Him not to, “command them to go out into the deep” (Luke 8:31) or according to Mark 5:10 that Jesus, “not send them away out of the country”.

This request by the Legion demonstrates that they know ultimate power belongs to Jesus Christ and there is no point in trying to resist. It shows that they know Jesus is in control. It also shows that they know they are being evicted; they’re just hoping to have some influence as to where they are headed.

In the Luke accounting, the Legion do not want to go, “into the deep”. The Greek word for deep is, “abyssos” and is where we get the word “abyss”, that bottomless, unbounded, immeasurable depth. An abyss is known more for its infinite nothingness than it is for it being a place or thing.

Interestingly, the place the Legion does not want to go to sounds incredibly like what God first created before His Spirit moved upon the face of the earth.

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)

The earth, before the Spirit of the Lord moved upon it was an abysmal and chaotic place. To help demonstrate this I’ve defined the key words in the first part of Genesis 1:2. Notice how everything keeps defining the same dark, chaotic, infinite abyss; the very place that the Legion asked Jesus not to send them to.

“And the earth was without form (Formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness), and void (Emptiness, void, waste); and darkness (Darkness, obscurity) was upon the face of the deep (Abyss).

In the Mark version, the devils don’t want to be sent away out of the “country”. The word country comes from the Greek “Chora” and means “the space lying between two places or limits”. The root word means a gaping opening, a chasm, or a gulf. This sounds like an abyss again, although this time it seems to have a location, a proximity between two other things.

Now, am I saying that the devils and the rudiments of heaven and earth all come from the same chaotic, black hole kind of place?

Let me give you something else to thicken the plot with. Jordan Peterson in his best-selling book “12 Rules For Life” said, “Chaos is also the formless potential from which the God of Genesis 1 called forth order using language at the beginning of time” (Jordan Peterson).

Did God call forth from the chaos, from the abyss in his creation? Is that how heaven and earth were made, that they were brought forth from some abysmal black hole to this domain?

Let’s thicken the plot even more. What about Jesus? Was He possibly brought forth from this abyss we’ve been talking about? Both the Old Testament and the New Testament seem to suggest it.

“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.” (Proverbs 8:22-26)

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” (John 8:42).

So, it seems that God didn’t create but rather brought forth all things from one domain into another, from one realm to a different realm. That this other domain, this abyss, this space between two places is something that the Legion of devils did not wat to return to.

This of course is wrong.

The Bible is clear, In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Created comes from the Hebrew “Bara” meaning of new conditions and circumstances, something that was not before and now is. This isn’t forming, reforming, or transforming. This isn’t bringing something from realm A to realm B. This is the creation of a new thing, something that never was before but now is.

Adam Clarke explains that creation, “expresses the commencement of the existence of a thing, or egression from nonentity to entity. It does not in its primary meaning denote the preserving or new forming things that had previously existed, as some imagine, but creation in the proper sense of the term, though it has some other acceptations in other places. The supposition that God formed all things out of a pre-existing, eternal nature, is certainly absurd, for if there had been an eternal nature besides an eternal God, there must have been two self-existing, independent, and eternal beings, which is a most palpable contradiction.” (Adam Clarke commentary on Genesis)

“Bara” refers to anything not previously extant that God caused to be. It is not exclusive to the creation of heaven and earth. For example, “But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up…..” (Numbers 16:30)

“How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth…..” (Jeremiah 31:22)

So, let’s get back to Jesus and the Legion. Instead of sending the devils off “into the deep” or “away out of the country”, the devils asked to be cast into a near-by herd of swine that were feeding on the mountain. Jesus obliged them. As soon as the Legion entered the pigs, immediately the “whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters” (Matthew 8:32).

That certainly took an interesting turn, didn’t it? A Legion of “uber” devils immediately recognize Jesus. They think He has come to torture them. They ask not to be sent to the abyss but rather to be sent into a herd of nearby swine. Jesus does as they request The Legion in turn, immediately charge down the mountain and into the sea, drowning all the pigs. Why?

It is always the intent of the devil to, “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). This is exactly what the Legion accomplished. For whatever reason, the Legion was unable to kill the man they possessed. Maybe they didn’t want to, no one knows. Although the man tortured and hurt himself while possessed, he was still strong enough to ward off any fatal attacks.

The pigs were a different story. They didn’t have the mind or the spirit to defend themselves which made it simple for the Legion to control and kill them.

A question to be asked is why there was a herd of pigs in the first place? It was a Jewish settlement. Jews were not allowed to eat, own, or even touch swine. Is that why Jesus agreed to the Legions request? Did Jesus know what they were going to do and allowed the Legion to kill the pigs because they weren’t holy?

We learn in Luke that the “whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes” (Luke 8:37) showed up after all of this happened. Even though the people found the man formerly possessed of the devils to be healed and free from the demons, they still asked Jesus to leave, assumedly because of what happened to the pigs. Why? Jesus saved a soul, got rid of something considered unholy, and made thousands of elite demons to go away. How could the towns people be upset with that? It would help to understand them if we first understood why they were keeping a herd of swine in the first place.

If anything, this shows the “tares” that the devil can sow. Remember, the goal of the devil is to, “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). The Legion accomplished everything they set out to do. But keep in mind, God is in control. Nothing happens against the will of God.

It should be obvious by now that Nietzsche derived his parable of the swine directly from the Bible.

“And also this parable give I unto you: Not a few who meant to cast out their devil, went thereby into the swine themselves” (Nietzsche - “Thus Spake Zarathustra”- Chasity). As a side note, “Thus Spake Zarathustra” is replete with Bible references and allusions like this one.

Whether it was intended or not, Nietzsche hits the nail on the proverbial head with his parable. If you attempt to rid yourself of your demons, be careful you don’t exorcise yourself instead.

The fallacy of it is that it is minus God. Anyone who tries to do anything, especially something of a spiritual nature without God is going to get in trouble. In Nietzsche’s parable he is attempting to have people “to cast out their devil”. It is ill advised to attempt casting out demons without first having the will of the Lord in support of you and the power of the Lord infused in you. The will and the power must be of the Lord, not of you. It is inconceivable to try to cast out demons by yourself. Self-exorcisms are not recommended and tend to go awry rather quickly.

Keep in mind, we are to avoid evil both in word and deed. If you love life then you are never to be the instigator in confronting it.

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” (1 Peter 3:10-13)

Bad things happen when we don’t heed the advice just given and we approach evil on our own.  Here is a good example from the Bible of what can happen when someone tries to call out a spirit without God.

“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16)

Man cannot succeed in the realm of the spirit with only his own power and will. These vagabond (wandering, like modern day gypsies) Jews had learned that the Apostle Paul used Christ’s name in casting out demons. They thought that the name alone carried some form of magic powers. “Jesus Christ” to these vagabond Jews was nothing more than an incantation, some magic spell in which to exorcise demons.   

During the time of Paul there were certain Jews who were called, “Masters of the Name”, said to have the ability to cast out demons.

Flavius Josephus, was a highly respected first-century Romano-Jewish historian. His most noteworthy work, “Antiquities of the Jews” which is still in wide distribution and usage today, often gave personal, firsthand accountings of many of the events and people in the Bible. Here’s a good example of Josephus and his encounter with the salt remnants of Lot’s wife.

“God then cast a thunderbolt upon the city, and set it on fire, with its inhabitants; and laid waste the country with the like burning, as I formerly said when I wrote the Jewish War. But Lot’s wife continually turning back to view the city as she went from it, and being too nicely inquisitive what would become of it, although God had forbidden her so to do, was changed into a pillar of salt; for I have seen it, and it remains at this day.” (Antiquities of the Jews 1.11.4)

Josephus also writes of his experiences with exorcists.

“God also enabled him (Solomon) to learn that skill which expels demons: which is a science useful, and sanative to men. He composed such incantations also by which distempers are alleviated. And he left behind him the manner of using exorcisms; by which they drive away demons; so that they never return: and this method of cure is of great force unto this day. For I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal in the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his Captains, and the whole multitude of his soldiers….” (Antiquities of the Jews 8.1.5)

Whether this Eleazar was some trickster or not, no one can be sure. But during the time of the Apostle Paul it was not uncommon for people to lay claim to having the ability to exorcise demons.

In any case, it’s a bad idea to be unqualified and messing around with the unknown. I certainly do not want some demon stating, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” followed up by a rather up close and personal visitation by said demon and then me bolting buck naked out the front door, just like what happened with the vagabond Jews.

Nietzsche warns about trying to cast out our own demons. That’s mistake number one. You can’t do it. Only God can.

Mistake number two. You can’t cast your demons back into the world. That’s their domain. You are not hurting them. You’re helping them. Jesus taught us this. He taught about what happens when an “unclean spirit” leaves a man, even when that man had cleaned up and straightened his life.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26).

If we can’t cast out the demons within, if good works and deeds aren’t the answer, if a clean life and clean living isn’t the way, then what is?

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-11)

The devil is actively seeking those trying to go it alone, those leading a clean life, especially those who are a “good person”. The devil will tear you apart and eat you up standing alone like this.

What is necessary is Jesus in our life. What is necessary is for us to cast all worry, care, and sin onto Him. To be “partakers of the divine nature” and to escape, “the corruption that is in the world” (2 Peter 1:4) we must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:9-11)

It is important to understand what is happening when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. This is what the vagabond Jews didn’t understand. Invoking the name of Jesus invokes the power and authority of Christ. God is the source of all power and authority. When Christ is in us and we in Christ, we have access to that power and authority.

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” (Psalm 62:11).

All power and authority are not only vested in Christ but were created and are sustained by Christ. This includes all thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers in heaven and earth, be they visible or invisible.

As a child of God and only as a child of God, do we have access to these things through the name of Jesus Christ.

Nietzsche fails in his parable because he fails to include the sole source of power and authority, Jesus Christ. Keep that in mind whenever you read Nietzsche. Also keep in mind that Nietzsche tends to confuse man’s religion with the way, the truth, and the light. Man’s religion and Jesus Christ are separate and unique to each other. Nietzsche is angry and expresses it as criticism and cynicism towards God, never really realizing God’s perfection and man’s inherent flaws. Instead he looks for perfection in the very thing that never can be perfect, man. Nietzsche’s ideal, and what he believed the human race should strive for, admire, and worship was what he referred to as “Superman”. How sad it is to believe that perfection of man isn’t divine, but some perceived improvement of man, is.

“I TEACH YOU THE SUPERMAN. Man is something that is to be surpassed. What have ye done to surpass man?....The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The Superman SHALL BE the meaning of the earth! I conjure you, my brethren, REMAIN TRUE TO THE EARTH, and believe not those who speak unto you of superearthly hopes! Poisoners are they, whether they know it or not.” (Nietzsche- “Thus Spake Zarathustra” Prologue)

Remain true to the earth. Don’t believe those who speak of superearthly (divine) hopes. They are poisoners whether they know it or not. Truly sad, a life without God, without heaven, and without a transcendent hope, love, and peace. That’s the Superman. That’s the natural man to perfection.

I’d rather be supernatural and unearthly. I’d rather obtain perfection through the blood of Christ.

Bill Hitchcock