It is sometimes hard for us to appreciate the texts of the Gospels as their original readers did. Living in a much different time and culture, there are elements of stories that we simply don't comprehend in the same way that they would have. Often this is to our impoverishment. A knowledge of the customs and beliefs of Jesus' culture can often help us see old familiar stories in a way that is much more complete.
The story of the demoniac in Mark 5 provides an excellent example of how a knowledge of first century culture and beliefs might help us to flesh out a text. Some random thoughts and examples:
1. The demoniac man had been unable to be restrained. This was unusual. While demoniacs may not have always been healed, typically they could be restrained. In Jesus' day, there were certainly Jews who practiced exorcism, perhaps even with some success. In addition, there was undoubtedly a whole body of folklore about the materials and substances that might lead to restraining a person possessed by demons. The fact that this man had been unable to be restrained for his safety and for the safety of others speaks to the power and number of the demons that were within him. Undoubtedly, Mark's readers would have regarded this man's plight as an extreme case almost beyond imagination and certainly beyond remediation.
2. People in the ancient world knew that demons did not normally cower in fear in front of those who came to exorcise them. Quite the opposite would have been expected. They might have been expected to curse or taunt the one who came to battle them. They might have been expected to brag about their hold or power. None of that happens here. This suggests that Jesus is not your run of the mill exorcist. He is indeed the Son of the Most High God.
3. In the ancient world, many thought that the key to exorcising a demon was to know its name. Knowing the name of a demon gave power over it through magical incantation. Exorcists would work to try to get a demon to reveal its name through trickery or guile. Jesus needs no conniving. He asks the demon(s); its name is told. Again, this speaks to the power of Jesus.
4. The demons ask Jesus not to be sent out of the area but instead to remain local. In particular, they ask to be cast into a herd of pigs. This probably reflects several beliefs about demons in the ancient world. On the one hand, it was believed that demons were territorial. They were given control over certain places or topographies (like desert or forest or sea). To be sent from their place would entail a battle with and possible subjection to the demons who ruled over the area where they were banished. Thus, the demons wish to avoid leaving where they live. On the other hand, it was believed that demons hated to be disembodied. Thus they beg Jesus to send them to the bodies of pigs. This was preferable to existing without corporeal reality. The demons believe Jesus might be favorable to this request for reasons we will see next.
5. Pigs were hated by the Jews. Not only were they unclean under Old Testament Law, but they were also symbols of pagan corruption and oppression. In the time of the Maccabees, Jewish heroes had endured torture and even death for the sake of not eating pork that was forced upon them. Pigs continued to remain symbols of pagan corruption both spiritual and political. This is why the demons think Jesus might let them go into the pigs. They imagine that as a Jew Jesus would have no love for that animal.
6. There may have been a belief that demons that were inside a living thing when it died faced banishment to the Abyss, a place where certain demons were held until the day of God's judgment. If this belief existed, then Jesus would be seen as tricking the demons. Since the pigs jump off the cliff and die, the demons are all banished out of this world. Jesus has a powerful victory.
In the Ancient mind, the story of the demoniac would have been an incredible demonstration of Jesus' power and wisdom, one that we miss out because we come from a different culture and mindset.
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