Postcolonial Reading of Mark 5:1-20 in the Light of Imperialism

Abstract

Why would Jesus be asked to leave the Gerasene country? Did he heal a possessed man or destroy the locals’ pig husbandry? To limit oneself to such views seems simplistic. Mark 5:1-20 contains a political narrative (according to Donald Juel). Postcolonial lenses help us to understand the imperialism at play in this text. In this article, the postcolonial analysis will help us examine how Roman imperialism constituted this passage’s context, subtext, and pretext. While focusing on the historical context, the article demonstrates how this pericope can be read against the local rebellious movements and Vespasian campaigns. The subtext, or the imperial culture, uncovers a climate of fear, frustration, and violence. Finally, as a pretext, imperialism justifies why the people had to ask Jesus to leave their land. Hence, reading the exorcism of the possessed-Gerasene man enables us to understand how Jesus grappled with the evils of his time.