HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. Who do you care more about, people or pigs? Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Then the SPCA would have been up in arms over such cruelty to animals. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). What was it that caused these people to react in such a way? To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Dave Armstrong Dave Armstrong is a full-time Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981. EIN 27-4581132 Brazilian Charity Caring for Children Who Survived Abortions Issues Urgent Appeal, Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die, The Meat of the Matter: St. Patricks Day and the Lenten Fast. . Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). If we put ourselves in their place, and use empathy to feel how we might have reacted if we were confronted with the loss of our next year's source of feeding our families, it will be easier to understand that they were afraid to suffer any other loss that might result if Jesus stayed in their area. Thus, all the circumstances lead us to regard the healing of the demonized at Gerasa as a night scene, immediately on Christs arrival from Capernaum, and after the calming of the storm at sea. Alford Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), I, pp. In this account we, by inference, learn much about the demonic spirits. Commentator R. C. H. Lenski states: The distance of these cities from the lake is immaterial for the narrative since this deals with the region that is near the lake and not with the vicinity of either of the cities to the lake.. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because it's not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. 22ff. He was a totally safe Person. So they refer to Gerasenes. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. Why do people like Jesus a lot? If they dare to open up their lives to Jesus what will happen? Those possessed are depicted throughout as unfortunate sufferers who by no fault of their own are dominated by evil spirits and who, when the spirits are cast out by Jesus, accept their deliverance with joy and gratitude (Mark v. 18-20, Luke viii. You might be thinking back to Easter and not recall very many hogs showing up except for at Easter supper. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. One is that he was a fascinating man. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). This is probably the Gerasa of Mark and Luke. We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). The drowning of the swine was an accident, possibly simultaneous with the healing, and report mixed up the two incidents. In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. Based on all the evidence we have seen over the past four months with regards to ChatGPT and how it can be manipulated or even how it will lie . - And they came to the other side of the sea.The other side of the sea would be the south-east side of the sea. Wikipedia states about it: In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.. In this story, we have a demon-possessed Gadarene who saw Jesus from a distance, and immediately he appeared to have felt a strong compulsion to run up to Jesus and bow down before him. man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus (Luke 8:26-39, NIV) 0 Responses 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. xvii. These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. But the distance is so short that, even making allowance for the delay by the tempest, the passage could scarcely have occupied the whole night. September 2018 Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". How much more sinful than Peter were the Geraseneans, who because of love of money did not shun even to engage in a non-Jew business of herding swine; how much more unbearable and dreadful must have been for them the Lords presence! vi. People who have no appr This is when the storm arose which threatened to destroy the ship (Mark 4:35-41). 123 1. If anything, that would have made them angry. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. Not long after that, while I was still a student in seminary, there was a car parked by the seminary in a somewhat suspicious manner and I called the police to check it out. There is no true freedom and fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer of men. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. Lets face it, we all like to be in control. At first we may deceive ourselves into thinking that we are controlling them, but the ultimate likelihood is that they will master us. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. Gadara, though not directly named in Scripture, was part of the Decapolis. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? How Can a Person Get Rid of Evil Spirits. Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. "And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a bo." Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? No matter where you are on life's journey. Luke 8:37Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. How Satan blinds our minds! So much pain, so much sin. She is a graduate of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University and Chicago Theological Seminary. November 2022 Christians are to be a "safe" people - an expression of that love of God so people who do not know Him can be drawn to the Truth. 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. Embedded into both stories are people who were afraid of Jesus. He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. But here we speak not about a bishop, but about Christ who made His Godhead revealed through devils beseeching Him not to cast them to hell but enter the swine. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. He shivered at the disturbing memory. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. No matter who you are. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The miracle referred to took place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa, the modern Kersa, close by the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and hence in the country of Gergesenes. "Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear." (Luke 8:37a) Fear plagues us. The people of Gerasenes were willing to live with the devils they knew - quite literally. We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. February 2017 Although Gadarenes and Gergesenes are derived from a different Greek word, they are essentially referring to the same area. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. What would happen to them? He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. 18). Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Our children would probably understand best if I said that his appearance must have been somewhat like that of the television creation, The Incredible Hulk. 15; Mark ix. Nevertheless, for consideration. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. No! NET Bible Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. In that case, of course, it would be in the early morning that the Gerasenes afterwards resorted to Jesus and that He again returned to Capernaum. The pig tenders reported it far and wide, in city and country (verse 14). Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. The most likely answer is to the country of the Gerasenes: i.e., Gerasa, a Greek town thought to be the same as the similarly-named Kersa on the east shore of Lake Tiberias. His animal-like shrieks must have sent chills up the spines of any who were nearby. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. Although the Gospels give us little information as to how individuals become targets of Satanic control, I would suggest for your consideration that they sometimes do so by leaving themselves open to Satanic influence. Lukes reading Gergesenes may represent even more accurately the ancient name of this place, as Origen knew of a Gergesa on the lake of Galilee. August 2016 Into the country of the Gadarenes, or rather, Gera-senes, which is now generally admitted to be the true reading, from Gerasa, Gersa, or Kersa.There was another Gerasa, situated at some distance from the sea, on the borders of Arabia Petraea. The man, who was naked when he saw Jesus, had the added ability of enduring both freezing and sweltering temperatures as well as pain he inflicted upon himself! You are welcome here. The capital of the region was Gerasa, and the largest city in the region was Gadera. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Luke seems to base this fear solely upon what happened to the demoniac, not on the loss of their pigs. Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah. 114 We are indebted to Edersheim, who reminds us that the expression demon possession never occurs in the New Testament: The term demoniacal possession occurs not in the New Testament. 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. May 2021 There is, as we know, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. I would like to invite you to return to where we left off a few weeks ago in our studies in the gospel of Mark. Life with him would be heaven on earth. The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. August 2015 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. December 2020 Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) Matt. Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. Early Christians like St. Polycarp clearly held the Catholic view on salvation. Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. But about a mile further south there is a fairly steep slope within forty yards from the shore, and about two miles from there cavern tombs are found which appear to have been used for dwellings. William L. Lane, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), p.181. T. H. Huxley, in his Essays upon some Controverted Questions (1892), made merry over the escapade of the Gadarene swine, running the seven miles between Gadar and the lake of Galilee, crossing the deep river Yarmuk en route. 8ff.). April 2021 The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. Why were the Romans afraid of the Christians? So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine . Dr. Thomson discovered on the eastern shore the ruins of a village called Khersa. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate). 05 /5 Another theory. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. 2. June 2021 They have three sons and a daughter (all homeschooled) and reside in southeast Michigan. Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. Five squad cars converged on it. Read the Scripture: Mark 4:35 - 5:20. I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. (2) Anti-social behavior. July 2022 The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. On the other hand, it may be correct to understand that although there were many demons, they had combined as one force to possess this man.119 While Mark records Legions request as one of not being sent out of the country (verse 10), Luke adds a significant explanation by interpreting the meaning behind this request: And they were entreating Him not to command them to depart into the abyss (Luke 8:31). In any event, they were not Israelites, as indicated by the fact that a herd of swine was being kept nearby, which would have been forbidden by the Mosaic Law, since swine were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Sproul says in his commentary on Mark, When the Holy One is manifest in the midst of unholy people, the only appropriate human response is dread.. February 2021 David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs In Gerasenes Remember the story of Jesus casting demons out of the crazy man in Luke 8? Acts 19:16). And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to depart from them; for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat, and returned (Luke 8:35-37). Why is this even an issue, I wonder? On several occasions, when Jesus forgave someone, He specifically said, Go and sin no more. That only works for people who are sick of their sin and want to change. Where it falls apart for me is why the Bellonas, knowing that only one person is allowed to survive each duel, take the defeat so personally. The confrontation between the powers of heaven and hell are nowhere seen in better perspective than in Marks account of the encounter of the Gerasene demoniac with our Lord Jesus Christ. How do I connect these two faces together? How to prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. February 2022 Then people came to see what it was that had happened. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. But as Gergesa was a small village, and little known, the evangelists, who wrote for more distant readers, spoke of the event as taking place in the country of the Gadarenes, so named from its largest city, Gadara; and this country included the country of the Gergesenes as a state includes a county. Accordingly this was not merely an ordinary form of mental disease as some writers have alleged, but a special phenomenon which was particularly frequent during Jesus earthly sojourn and thus was directly connected with His coming to destroy the power of darkness. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. They would have to trust Jesus. The Gadarenes was the place where Jesus confronted a man whose possession by demons gave him a level of superhuman strength like Samson (Mark 5:3 - 5, Luke 8:27). In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. 16, x. 22, xvii. It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. June 2020 Until we decide on a new comic, you'll likely see a gray box where "Dilbert" had appeared. Some illicitly use drugs, supposing that they have them completely under their control. He was also humorous in his answers. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. On the other hand, the scene gains in grandeurhas, so to speak, a fitting backgroundif we suppose the Saviour and His disciples to have landed on the other side late in the evening, when perhaps the silvery moon was shedding her pale light on the weird scene, and laying her halo around the shadows cast upon the sea by the steep cliff down which the herd of swine hurried and fell. 4, p. 102. March 2021 It is very appropriate that these two incidents . Spam. This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. Luke 8:26-39 Mark 5:1-20 ESV - 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Jesus has lead me away from my old life. This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. I will not look for a reason to return to it. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. July 2018 In this context, however, he insists that legion has nothing of its usual Roman military overtones, but is the designation of numerous powers which oppose themselves to Jesus as the embodiment of the power of God. Lane, Mark, fn. October 2022 Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. 1, pp. They were afraid and astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey Him?" . 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. Events that are important to our Church Community, Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac. (4) Our Lord did not command the demons to enter into the pigs and bring about their destruction; He only permitted it.124. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. Christians are to be the answer, but often they are part of the problem. So, they asked Him to leave. Demons are highly organized (cf. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the March 2016 August 2020 In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. Jesus is conscious that He now breaks the power of the devil and his angels because He is the One in whom the dominion of God is present on behalf of humanity. W. Foerster, as quoted by Lane, Mark, fn. Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. In the form of tongues as of fire, the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. (CCC 696). Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. (1) Severe personality change. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. November 2014. Only 30 of 175 dioceses ordained an average number of priests at or above replacement level over the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to the report. Those who have witnessed demon possession tell us that each demon has its own distinct personality and that the individual possessed begins to manifest the distinct personality of the demon by which he is possessed. 3 When the centurion 2 heard about Jesus, c he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his .

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