The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 242

go home. They trembled at the power of Christ, while they dreaded the torments he will one day inflict. They would rather enter into swine, rather go into the sea, rather go into the "'orst and filthiest spot of earth, than go back into the deep abyss of hell. It was not the abyss of earth or the abyss of ocean, but the abysmal depth of that unfathomed pit of hell, which they so much dreaded. And oh I a.re sinners not afraid of rushing with eyes open into that dreadful, deep abyss? 3. Their fiendish malice. Now that they are cast out, and ca.n no longer destroy their victim, they are actuated by demon-like malevolence, and try to keep others from the Sa¥;our by causing the loss of their swine. In this way they seek to prejudice and even c,.irage them against the Saviour. They seem to have succeeded, for the Gadarenes II began to pray him to depart out of their coasts." 4. The sufferings of the brute creation. Why, it may naturally enough be asked, are poor dumb animals subjected to sufferings? Or how is it possible that the demons could exert any influence of the kind stated upon them? In reply to the latter question, it may be sufficient to mention the influence which man exerts upon animals such as the dog, the horse, the elephant, in the way of training and teaching. If animals are thus receptive of human influence, why should they not be receptive of other and, in some respects, more powerful influence? Why should they not be accessible to, and receptive of, demoniac influence, as well as that of men? The other question stands on different ground. The lower animals, placed under man's control a\ the first, and granted to man for useful service, share to some extent in man's varying fortunes, and are entitled to humane and kind treatment at the hands of man; but that they snffered in consequence of man's fall anrl sin is, we think, unquestionable, Their position now is abnormal just as man's own position is abnormal, for does not "the whole creat10n groan and travail m pain together until now"? Besides, they often suffer, in common with man, in special disasters-such as conflagrations, shipwrecks, and catastrophes of similar kinds. 5. .A mixture of mercy and judgment. While mercy was shown to the demoniac in his miraculous cure, judgment was inflicted on the owners of the swine for their sin. Jesus performed the act of mercy, and permitted the exercise of the other. The demons could not have moved an inch without his permission. This side of the miracle was judgment, and well deserved. Who were these Gadarenes or Gergesenes? Were they Gentiles or were they Jews? If the former-if Gentiles, they were tempting their Jewish neighbours, and they had no right to do that. If they ·were Jews, they were breaking the Law of God, and they could not Jong expect to prosper, and to continue doing that. If they were Jewish proprietors, who employed Gentile swineherds for the purpose of tending and herding their swine, they were both sinni11g themselves and tempting others to sin; and so both partook of the result and shared the consequences of their crime. Here, too, we must notice the hardening effect of sin Jong persevered in. These Gadarenes, whatever their nationality, whether Jew or Gentile, had become like swine themselves-swinish in spirit and disposition. They actually preferred their swine to the Saviour, and "besought him to depart out of their coasts! "-J. J. G. Vers. 21-43. Parallel passages: Matt. ix. 18-26; Luke viii, 41-56.-Touch- ing in the throng. L THE WOMAN WITH AN lBBUE OF BLOOD. I . .A painful disease, The woman mentioned in this section had been a sorely afflicted sufferer. For twelve long and weary years she had suffered from a painful and weakening malady (,11 t,iJ,rn, the preposition /11 here resembles the beth essential of Hebrew, denoting in the capacity, character, or condition of, i.e. in the condition of an issue). During that time, we may well suppose, she had sought every means of cure; and found none. During that time she had applied to various physicians; but obtained no relief. During that time she had, no doubt, taken many a bitter draught and many a nauseoUB drug; but all to no purpose. During that time she had, dourtless, sub- mitted to mauy severe experiments or even some harsh operations; but all in vain. During that time she had expended much, yea, all her means; she "had spent," we are told, "all her living upon physicians," and that in addition to her sufforings, as is implied by the prepositional element in the word ('1rpotra.11a>.,/,tfa.tfa.) employed by St. Luke; while St. Mark tells us plainly in thiR passage that she "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had." And now she remains poor and deijtitute, diseased and weak, and miserable as ever ; for she " was OH. v.1-43.J THE GOSP.1£L ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MARK.