And the swineherds fled and reported it in the city and in the villages. And people came to see what had happened.
The swineherds, who had seen what happened, could not remain silent. They fled and told everywhere what had taken place. This is a natural response to a great and terrifying event. Yet this verse also reveals how the work of Christ becomes public. It does not remain within one closed circle; rather, the news spreads to town and village. But when people come to see, the question still remains open: how will they respond? Mark often shows that people’s response toward Jesus is twofold. Some are amazed and believe. Others are afraid and go away. Here as well, the scene is aimed at that decisive moment when a person’s heart must be revealed before Christ.