Variations
In this version of the story, Jesus encounters demons that were not possessing an individual.
When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go!" So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. - Matt. 8:28-34
In Mark's Gospel, Jesus encounters a naked man possessed by a legion of demons.
In both versions of the story, Jesus does as they wish, casting them into the swine.
Because some of the details are different, the feeling we get when we compare the two is that some of the story must be true.
Now that may not be the case.
Matthew may have heard the story told and decided the part about the naked man living in the cave was not relevant to the main message, that Jesus has power over demons.
The fact that he healed a man possessed of demons, per Mark, is not what Matthew was interested in.
The beauty we have in the four Gospels is variation.
It allows us to think on our own, come to our own conclusions, decide for ourselves what is worth believing and what is not.
No one can make someone believe something. Belief is an action verb. It requires our involvement in the story.
We have to buy in.
And we are more likely to be engaged, to really think about these stories if they are presented in several versions.
It is like hearing several witness accounts of an accident or crime. The more you hear, the more likely you will need to come to your own conclusion.
If you only get one version, you may be led astray.
More to come...