Hog Farmer’s Tale

By Daniel Shipton (Based on Mark 5:1-20)

I was out with Silas, Barnabas, and the ten other herders. It was time to move our pigs from the rally grounds up to the meadows on the hill. We worked for Titus Kohor—the wealthiest hay farmer in all of Decapolis. Last year, governors from five provinces bought their festival hogs from Mr. Kohor. This year’s litters were shaping up to be even more profitable.

There were about two thousand in the herd, which meant we had to move them nearly every week to fresh feeding grounds. We always circled near the western cliffs and the graveyard. I hated passing the tombs—lepers, the sick, and bandits hid there. Sometimes you could hear the moaning of people in pain. Other times, you’d hear Crazy Neilo screaming and shouting from one of the caves.

Neilo was my age. We’d apprenticed together at Saul’s butcher shop when we were just boys. We were both in love with the sand girl, Deloris. But something changed after Simon the Sorcerer visited our village. He entertained us with tricks and incantations. Neilo was intrigued—he started following the sorcerer around more and more.

A while later, Neilo became agitated and withdrawn. By the following spring, he was wandering the streets, talking to himself. He began shouting at people and dragging his head low with burdens. He lived on the outskirts, sometimes growling and shouting as people passed by.

I helped his mother coax him into their home for a few meals. He’d eat. Once, he even bathed. But it never lasted. Soon he was back out on the streets. His father tried locking him in their old barn. After the Romans threatened to kill him, we even tried chaining him to a tree. No matter how tight the ropes, he broke free.

Women and children feared him. Last year, when the mayor’s father died, several of us were asked to capture Neilo and keep him away from the burial ceremony. We managed to hold him for a few hours, but somehow, he escaped. He threw Joseph the blacksmith down the hill and broke Steven the miller’s nose.

Now he haunts the tombs—screaming, shouting, talking to himself, the dead, and the lepers. Even the bandits tried to drive him out. There was no way to help my old friend.

As dawn broke, I saw a dozen men walking up the steep path from the sea. I wondered where these strangers were headed.

“Who are they, Marcus?” Barnabas asked as he joined me, pointing down to the men near the cliff’s edge.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “But unless Mayor Antonio is expecting them, he’ll send them on their way.”

“If they’ve got gold,” Silas added, “they won’t be here long.”

Suddenly, from deep within the tombs, we heard Crazy Neilo screaming louder and more terrifying than I’ve ever heard him. He bolted out of the darkness of one of the tombs, jumped over the boulders lying along the path way. His arms flailed all around him as he shouted at the visitors walking up the path.

“Go away from us. Leave us alone,” Neilo shouted.

The approaching band of men fell back, all but the man in the lead. He seemed to stand firm. He slowly raised his hand.

The sun was starting to give clearer sight. It looked like Neilo had fear in his eyes. He fell back, bent low and turned to the side shielding himself from the traveling man, “What do you want with us Son of God? Why have you come? It isn’t our time,” Neilo shouted as he seemed to cower.

“Silence,” the calm man said, “Who are you?”

“We are Legion, for we are many. You are not yet to come and send us from this place to judgment. It isn’t our time.”

“I said silence,” the man said firmly but calmly.

“Send us to those pigs. Yes. Yes. Into the pigs. We will not go to a person. Into the pigs. We beg you.”

“As you wish. Be gone,” The man said, as Neilo fell down to the ground in a heap.

We heard shouting and screaming as if a thousand men were in torment. Our pigs, all two thousand jumped and turned at the same time. They began to run toward the cliff. Titus and Bartholomew shouted for the other workers to run and help to stop the stampede.

It was too late. We couldn’t stop them, as they ran and jumped over the cliff. Not one of them even seemed to slow down. They were squealing, as if in pain, and then silence. I wouldn’t have believed it unless I were there. Our whole years herd were now at the bottom of the Galilee Sea.

We walked back toward the tombs in dismay. We could see the man who had silenced Neilo helping my old friend to his feet. Then the others with him gathered around Neilo. They offered some of their clothing and the leader invited Neilo to join them for some food by a fire down by the beach.

“What will we do?” Bartholomew asked. “No one will believe us?”

“I turned to the men who worked under me. You men go to town and get Mayor Antonio and the elders tell them to come out here to see these strange visitors.  Bartholomew, go get Mr. Kohor and tell him to come right away.”

“Stephan and Ambrose have already runoff to town. They left as soon as the pigs ran away. We should leave too, before Mr. Kohor comes. He will be furious, and we are responsible,” Bartholomew said.

“Fine, I will go tell Mr. Kohor. You stay here and keep an eye out on those men.

I hadn’t even gotten half way back to town when the mayor, Mr. Kholor and the elders of the town were already approaching. They were shouting at the mayor.

“What will we do?”

“How will we ever survive the winter?”

“How will you stop a god Mr. Antonio? The men they say it was a god.”

“Now. Now.” The mayor shouted. Let’s just calm down a bit. I’m sure those men were exaggerating. Surely you know some of those servants have been seen in town drinking early in the day. The entire flock of pigs couldn’t have just run into the see. Who ever heard such a thing.”

“Mayor Antonio, here come my head servant now I will demand he tell us what happened. He has never lied, and I know he couldn’t be drunk. He has always been a faithful worker and never drinks on the job. You there, come and answer us,” Mr. Kohor shouted at me and waved me over.

“Quiet,” the mayor said, “Now, young man. You explain to us what happened out here this morning.

We were standing back in the field overlooking the cliff near the tombs. Women gasped and turned away from the bodies of the pigs in the water below. I looked for Bartholomew, but didn’t see him or the others. Then I saw the visitors sitting on the rocks along the roadway next to the tombs. They were eating bread and Neilo sat with them. He seemed to be having a conversation. Bartholomew stood at a distance watching them. I shouted for Bartholomew and waved him to come.

Once Bartholomew was with me, I felt strong enough to share what had happened. I gave the whole account, just as I’ve said here. Then I turned and pointed to the men sitting on the rocks along the road, “Those are the men over there. The man sitting next to Neilo he is the one who sent those pigs into the waters. Isn’t it right Bartholomew?”

“Yes,” Bartholomew said. “But Neilo, he is sitting with them. He is eating and talking with them just like we are talking here.”

The group turned and looked toward the men sitting on the rocks. The mayor looked at me, “Which one is the god the others said did this?”

“I know not if he is a god or a sorcerer. All I know is Neil was crazy and somehow the man sitting beside him caused him to be well, and the pigs all went crazy. He is more powerful than any holy man I’ve ever seen.”

“Come the Mayor,” said stepping away from the crowd, “We shall see.”

The crowd stopped, and the mayor turned back, “Are there no men among my town who will join me? Are you all cowards?”

“They are my pigs,” Mr. Kohor said, “I will go with you. I will know who this man who has killed our pigs is. Come with us.”

A few of the other men joined them, and I and Bartholomew came along too. We approached with caution, but the Mayor and Mr. Kohor were determined to find out if this was a man or a god.

“You there,” the mayor demanded as we approached. “We have been told that you caused the pigs of Mr. Kohor here to be drown in the waters of the sea. Are you or are you not the one responsible.”

“If you are asking did, I command the spirits within this poor man to free him from their captivity, I will answer, yes. “

“The spirits demanded to go to the pigs, my lord,” Neilo said. “I was not able to even converse with anyone only a short time ago. Now, I stand here, healed. The evil spirits within me demanded to go to the pigs. Those spirits killed the sheep. This great prophet healed me. For the first time in years, I am at peace.”

Mr. Kohor turned white, as Neilo explained how he had been healed. The mayor looked nervously at the other elders of the town. “What say you.”

The men talked quietly, hoping the men couldn’t hear, “If we confront someone who can order spirits, how do we know he won’t send them on us?” one man asked.

“Yes, his power seems great. The herders and Neilo are proof. We must use care,” another advised.

“What say you, Titus? They were your pigs after all”

Mr. Antonio looked gravely at Neilo, and then at the holy man, “I have the young back at in the pens. We can rebuild the flock. I agree we should not accuse one who commands the spirits. But we should ask him kindly to leave our land in peace.”

“Yes.”

“Yes”

The Mayor Turned to the holy man, “We know you are a man of great power, and we see how you have cured one who was so far gone. But we beg you not to stay here, that something else would befall our town. Please, sir, can we ask that you and your friends move on.”

Please?  Please? I have never seen our mayor talk in such humble ways. He demanded respect. He demanded people listen. He demanded people pay to go through our town. Never had I heard him say please.

The holy man smiled gently, “I mean you know harm, but have only hope. But if it will settle your nerves we will move on. We have much work to share with other places of the grace and love of my Father in Heaven.”

A wave of relief seemed to come over the mayor, “Thank you, Sir. Thank you for your kindness. Be blessed on your journeys.” He turned back to the crowd and shouted, “Everyone return to their homes. The show is over. They will move on today.”

I was astonished. What kind of man makes men of power cower in their gentle ways? I stood watching as the travelers stood to begin their journey away from our town.

“Peace be with you my son,” the holy man said to Neilo.

“I want to go with you. I must. You have taken me, a man out of my heard and given me life again.”

“No,” the holy man said gently. “Your family and friends miss you. Go to them, and tell all you meet what God the Father has done for you.”

“Yes, I will tell everyone. But, who can I tell them was it that has done this great kindness to me?”

One of the rough looking men with the holy man smiled, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Most High God.”
               “I shall tell everyone of you Jesus of Nazareth. Everyone everywhere,” Neilo said hugging him and turning to run toward me.

“My friend,” he said hugging me, “I who was lost am now found. I who was trapped now am free. Jesus of Nazareth healed me. Let’s go tell others.

We started toward town. I looked back and the eyes of the holy man looked at me. They seemed to pierce my own heart. I whispered so no one could hear. ‘Thank you for my friend, and heal me Jesus of Nazareth.’ He smiled and nodded and then turned to walk with his friends down the path leading away from our town. I felt free that day, free from my own inner prison. I thank Jesus for his Saving power.