Story is a metaphysical puzzle. No place at all for this story. Preach on the Genesis reading. In an age concerned mainly to show that Reason and Faith were harmonious, there s no place for a story like this. Instead focus on how barbarous and quaint the ancient Hebrews were, how primitive their story of humanity s creation.
Story is an embarrassment.
Commentators troubled by the wanton destruction of property, the death of the pigs. C19 concerned to demonstrate that Jesus was just the sort of chap to be in your club. Plummer and Sanday discuss this at length. They conclude either that the drowning of the swine must have been an accident, later confused with an authentic healing, or that the owners were Jews, for whom keeping wine was illegal, and thus just punishment for breaking the law. In neither case, could Jesus be seen to sanction the destruction of property.