There is a story that is found in three of the Gospels, Matthew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8, where Jesus comes upon a man that is possessed by many demons. 

As Jesus got out of the boat and stepped to shore they were confronted by a man that was possessed by evil spirits.  This man lived in the cemetery, dwelling among the tombs, where Satan prefers to keep his followers, amongst the dead.  This man wore no clothes and lived like a wild animal with uncontrollable behaviors. 

Jesus immediately said to the demons to, Come out of the man, and they addressed Jesus with, Jesus, Son of the Most High God.  So, as in previous stories, Jesus knows where the demons are and the demons know who Jesus is.  It shows that the demons know of Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah better than the Jewish Religious leaders did!  The demons urged Jesus not to torment them. 

When Jesus asked the name they replied “Legion, for we are many”, and they begged Him not to send them out of this country, in Luke it says to not send them to the abyss.  Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.  Note that Satan would rather inhabit swine than to be sent out of this pagan area that was a good market for his rule.  In John 10:10 it states that Satan’s desire is to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, and that is what happened to the herd of swine. 

In the Book of Leviticus Chapter 11, it states that it is a violation of Mosaic Law for Jews to eat or keep unclean animals such as swine, so the towns’ people didn’t demand restitution for the great loss; they were just afraid and pleaded with Jesus to leave the region.  Their worldly riches instantly wiped away.  But the demon-possessed man that was healed begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." 

So why did Jesus leave behind a truly saved believer that wanted to follow Him?  Because the man would be a shining light among the unbelievers in that town after Jesus and His disciples leave.  The towns people rejected Jesus, this saved man has a great message to tell.  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

We all have a story to tell!