First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. August 2020 December 2021 21,22). If anything, that would have made them angry. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. January 2016 Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs? Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. Why were the Romans afraid of the Christians? Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC No matter who you are. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? The account occurs in all three Synoptic gospels; in Mark (the shortest gospel) the story is in the longest and most detailed version; Matthew 8.28-34 is the shortest, 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! 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. At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. I think the coup de grce is to look up the Greek word for country in these passages, to see what latitude of meaning it has. Jude 6), no longer to afflict men or resist God. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. That the unclean spirits were personal beings is evident from what is related about their leaving a possessed person, talking or crying out, possessing knowledge concerning Jesus, as well as other supernatural knowledgeshowing fear, and the like. 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). A Summary and Analysis of Jesus and the Gadarene Swine Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. September 2021 4, p. 180. 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). The demonically possessed man who came to Jesus cried out his name was Legion. Crazy question or.? Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. Therefore, Jesus Christ for demons is God and thus even demons inadvertently reveal themselves as being better theologians than Arians and their modern day heirs - Jehovawitnesians and all different breeds of Unitarians - their name being legion! With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. As I have been studying this account through the week, it has seemed to me a rather bizarre and remote situation, the liberation of this Gerasene demoniac. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. April 2018 The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. In the past several weeks, there has come to light the case of a man arrested for various crimes who has several of the symptoms of demon possession, including multiple personalities, even multiple IQs. November 2014. The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. 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. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. 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. November 2022 (6) Tendency towards self-destruction. 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. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. I was in a dialogue with an atheist regarding what he believes is one of many so-called biblical contradictions. Odd guy that I am, I actually find this sort of thing fun. 5. . He was also humorous in his answers. Such was the case with this man (cf. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes. (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Although it is often claimed that Christians were persecuted for their refusal to worship the emperor, general dislike for Christians likely arose from their refusal to worship the gods or take part in sacrifice, which was expected of those living in the Roman Empire. Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. For some people, the cost is too high. January 2021 Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. The exercising of authority over demons, in the land under another god, was a message. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. 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.. Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. It was scary. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. How many demons possessed the man in Mark 5:6? He shivered at the disturbing memory. Instantly he recognized the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God (verse 7).116 There was a source of spiritual insight beyond human capabilities here. Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. December 2020 Wasn't the answer obvious? They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? 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. As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. Gadara, though not directly named in Scripture, was part of the Decapolis. His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. 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) 4. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/gerasene-or-gadarene-swine, What Archaeology Tells Us About Joshuas Conquest, 50 Verses to Help You Prepare for Pentecost, St. Polycarp, Who Learned the Faith From an Apostle, Did Not Believe in Faith Alone, The Three Kinds of Atheists, and How to Respond to Them, We Know That Hes in Heaven: Thousands Gather for Funeral of Bishop David OConnell in Los Angeles, Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Paprocki Speak Out in Support of Traditional Latin Massgoers in Their Dioceses, Survey: Decline in Vocations to the Priesthood Is Worse Where Priests Serve Larger Flocks, God Really Intervened: How a Catholic Priest Escaped From His Kidnappers in Haiti, Amber and Dave VanVickle on Finding God in the Midst of Suffering. Although God's word does not name which cities were considered part of this region, Pliny's Natural History (c. 77 A.D.) lists these cities as Gerasa, Scythopolis, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia, Capitolias (Dion), Canatha, Raphana and Damascus. They are happy in their sin and the consequences seem far away. Afraid of Jesus? | Sermons | College Park Church The best known Gerasa was a Greek city nearly forty miles southeast of the lake (modern village of Khersa, on the east shore of the lake. Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. On the other hand, Gadara is only six miles from the southern tip of the lake and could easily have given its name to the district. Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. 26). They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. The Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. But let us return to the gist of the matter: if Christ showed them His Divinity through the reason given above, is it easy to be in the presence of God? The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. Jesus had just performed an incredible miracleand one they desperately needed, at that! The destructive desires of the demons were dramatically carried out in the drowning of the swine. Gerasa, Gadara, Gergesa - from where did the pigs stampede? Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. Just imagine, a man in a cinema, having bought popcorn and cola and watching an action movie, with a lot of violence and harsh language in it, and then he sees suddenly that a saintly bishop is sitting just next to his seat, not watching the movie, but reading silently psalms with a countenance radiating a deep contemplation; will not the first man be upset and lose all pleasure of watching the movie? But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. They are unclean spirits, (vss. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 128 In most of the stories of possession what is at issue is not merely sickness but a destruction and distortion of the divine likeness of man according to creation. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. February 2017 The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. 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?" . The first two are in the Authorized Version. in a crowd in a crowd where many people were bumping into Him? 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. What would happen to them? Catholic Church. 16ff., xix. The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Who Was Afraid Of Jesus And Why? December 2015 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. We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. - 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. I will not ask him to leave. By His power, we, too, are able to overcome Satans treacheries. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? October 2022 No! 2. The Death Of Relationships In Nairobi - YAZA Kenya Here is one of the few times that a miracle drove people away, rather than to draw them to Jesus. It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. Here is where Satan can use a man to influence scores of people, blinding minds and hearts to the truths of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. How Satan blinds our minds! Sometime after the Lord Jesus miraculously calmed the storm, the ship landed, perhaps late in the evening,111 on the other side of the lake in the country of the Gerasenes.112 If, indeed, it was late at night, the scene must have been an eerie one, with the nerves of the disciples already worn thin by the terrifying experience of the storm. June 2021 Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. Luke 7 - And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." | ESV.org And they were afraid. But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. No matter what men attempted to bind him with, he broke loose. July 2021 116 As Lane observes this title Son of the Most High God, is not a messianic designation but a divine one. Lane, Mark, p. 133, cf. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus - Quora December 2022 A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. April 2021 January 2022 (2) Anti-social behavior. 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. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because it's not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah. Bible scholar Gleason Archer (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties) argues similarly, It is entirely possible that the political control of this region was centered in Gadara as the capital city. Afraid of Jesus | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Even in our sophisticated times, there is an intense interest in the supernatural and the occult. (it should be added that Plummer himelf does not hold to any of these views.). . Why Darth Sidious Was AFRAID of General Grievous - YouTube In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Lane believes the modern Kersa is the most likely place: The point of arrival is indicated in a general way as the district of the Gerasenes, most probably in reference to a town whose name is preserved in the modern Kersa or Koursi. The expression to be with Jesus is used particularly of His disciples (cf. There is no conflict, however, for Mark and Luke have apparently focused their attention on the most striking of the two. Paul says of the former life of the Christian, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 1:1-2). 120 The request is in both cases the same; for, according to Jewish notions, certain countries being assigned to evil as well as to good spirits, whose limits they were unable to overpass, to be sent out of their own country, no other being open to them, implied being sent into the abyss, or bottomless pit, since that remains for them alone. Trench, Miracles , p. 101. It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. "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. October 2018 As always, we must begin with the principle: Interpretation is one, application is many. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. Who Were The Gerasenes In The Bible? - Mastery Wiki They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. and 1 Kings xxii. But from all of the Gospel accounts, I get the distinct impression that this mans eyes were riveted on Jesus. I used to want the longest life, perfect health and happiness, but really it is that feeling that I am so glad that this isnt all there is and that we have heaven to wait for, and that well be with Jesus, and there will be no more tears Amber VanVickle (1982-2023), The headquarters of the charity, which serves as a consecrated family to 46 disabled children, were badly damaged in major flooding near Rio de Janeiro last year. All of this sure seems perfectly consistent with calling the same area the country (chra) of either the Gerasenes or the Gadarenes, after the two major cities. When the townspeople arrived on the scene, they saw the formerly demon-possessed men, clothed, in their right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus. March 2020 For those who are shaken like leaves in the wind at the mention of demons, let us remember from this story that demons cannot even possess pigs without prior permission from our Lord. Jesus had freed the man and for a reason known only to Himself, He had granted the demons request to go into a nearby herd of pigs rather than go into the Abyss [bottomless pit]. DEUT 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. They have three sons and a daughter (all homeschooled) and reside in southeast Michigan. This suggests that whoever was the customer for the swineherder in the "region of the Gerasenes", it was not the Roman army to any significant extent. 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. What was the country of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes) and why is it How Can a Person Get Rid of Evil Spirits. and thank you for your contribution. especially fn. It would seem that these people had no Messianic expectations, and therefore wanted nothing to do with One Who had such awesome power, a power over which they had no control. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. Although demon-possession after that time no longer occurs on such a devastating and noticeable scale, the absolute form of demon-possession will appear at the end of the age in the Antichrist and in his followers (2 Thess. March 2016 Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. What scared them was a power so fierce it could free a man. Like the Samaritans who followed the woman at the well to see this One who had told her all she had done, so these residents came to see for themselves what had happened. and our The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. It only takes a minute to sign up. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. January 2015 14). December 2017 Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. This request was granted and the entire herd rushed headlong to their own destruction. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear.
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