Just as demons desire to possess persons through whom they can exhibit their personalities, so the Spirit of God indwells man, imparting new life, and progressively gaining control so that the character of God is exhibited, but not in such a way as to hinder our individuality and identity. Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . In Galilee and Judea there were Messianic hopes which would have been quickly fanned into flames if the miracles of Jesus were too widely publicized. These people from the region of the Gerasenes had undoubtedly felt the anger or disgust of Jews for making a career out of such unclean animals, but Jesus had not criticized them for their profession. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. 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. We should know from other Scriptures that our present spiritual experience is one of spiritual warfare. Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 26). Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. 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. Smiths Bible Dictionary provides what I find to be a quite plausible explanation (not special pleading at all), and analogous to how we still use place names today: These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. Note that the texts dont say Gerasa or Gadara, so they arent necessarily referring just to one of the cities. These people did not want to change. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. Thus an economic lose of revenue was involved. We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . Ouija boards are found in many American homes. That would be a strong message, by allowing them to be possessed and then drowned. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. As He had landed with His disciples He had been confronted with a demon-possessed man - a man that no one had been able to control. 5:5). His website/blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, has been online since March 1997. Who Were The Gerasenes In The Bible? - Mastery Wiki Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. But notice, even though Jesus permitted them to enter the swine, they were unable to overcome their evil impulses and drove the swine over the cliff to their death. Why did Jesus have the authority to forgive sins, why did the scribes take it as a blasphemy, and was this authority also given to men in general? The nearby townspeople, upon hearing of the great miracle (and not wanting to suffer further economic loss), begged Christ to leave the Gadarenes and never come back! The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. There seems to be no excuse here for the charge of contradiction. The man looked out on the Tiberius. It hit them hard in the pocketbook. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. What was the country of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes) and why is it How Satan blinds our minds! 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). 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. John 8:32; Matthew 11:28-30), or to be the pawns of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known.. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). 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). June 2017 Gospel Parallels: The Gerasene Demoniac - READ-SCRIPTURE.COM What did Jesus do? Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. July 2018 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. Luke 8 Will they be rejected? June 2015 0 Responses Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. May the Spirit of God be so evident in us that men may see God in our lives. They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. At their request, He left. Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. 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. 31. The Demonized Man of the Garasenes (Luke 8:26-39) - JesusWalk When Jesus and his disciples come to the mostly-Gentile region of the Gerasenes, they are met by a man whose life has been destroyed by demonic infestation. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate). 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. Some today have given demons far more than their due by blaming demons for every malady of mankind. The whole story is a myth. And when the man spoke to Jesus, it looks like the demons inside the man were the ones doing the speaking. Verse 1. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! But from all of the Gospel accounts, I get the distinct impression that this mans eyes were riveted on Jesus. Train crash in Greece: 43 dead, stationmaster arrested. Live updates. Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region - EBible But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear (Luke 8:35-37). Afraid of Jesus? | Sermons | College Park Church Unbelieving men may not rave and carry on like the Gerasene demoniac, but they are nevertheless under Satans control, doing his bidding. The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. Why as the question? . 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. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. The demoniacs were mere maniacs, whom Jesus cured by humouring their fancies; and His giving leave to imaginary demons to enter into the swine, produced the story of the disaster to the herd.All these explanations assume that the Gospel narratives are wholly or in part unhistorical. Plummer, Luke, p. 228. January 2022 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 5. The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. Hence there was demon-worship, the worship not necessarily of evil spirits; but of the spirits of those who had existed in the Golden Age. G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to Mark (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1927), p. 114. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. If anything, that would have made them angry. Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. The people who witnessed this are . The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. Rev. April 2016 In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. September 2022 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! February 2021 Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Although it is likely that the larger towns of Galilee were predominantly Gentile, as was the Decapolis, the first-century civilian diet did not . The occult and every front for demonic influence and activity should be avoided like the plague. 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. With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. xiii. So he got into a boat and returned. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. It is noteworthy that it is distinguished (especially in the Gospel of the physician, Luke) from cases of ordinary sickness, insanity (lunacy), leprosy, blindness, lameness, deafness and other natural defects and diseases (cf. Wikipedia states about it: In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. I will not look for a reason to return to it. "The name "Gerasenes" is to be associated with the modern city of Jerash, located in Transjordan, 22 miles N of Amman." 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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 they were afraid. July 2016 August 2022 10). 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. They had been unable to control these two men [Luke only mentions one man, but Matthew tells us there were two]. He was a totally safe Person. or by some form of self-emptying (such as various forms of eastern meditation) in my opinion, they are in a precarious position. Their first question is a rather pragmatic one, namely, How can demons possess animals? To this we must confess that we know too little to understand the mechanism of demon possession but the reality is very evident. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 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 reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperat More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. (3) Spiritual insight. We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. May 2015 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. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! Why were the Romans afraid of the Christians? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. No matter who you are. - 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. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. And, yes, Dana did just read us something about a man possessed by a whole bunch of demons that later go and possess a bunch of hogs. 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! March 2015 The Secret behind Jesus Healing the Gerasene Demoniac As these people began to piece together the previous events, not only of the destruction of the pigs, but also the deliverance of Legion, they began to sense that there was One far more awesome, much more to be feared, than Legion. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. Mark 9:17-29). 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. December 2016 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. Asked October 24 2014 Why did Jesus allow the legion of demons to stay in the area when they begged him? No matter where you are on life's journey. Oh Hye-son recently published a Korean-language memoir on how she and her husband Thae Yong-ho, then deputy ambassador at North Korea's London embassy, defected in 2016. October 2020 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. May 2017 There is, as we know, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. April 2017 122 Quoted by Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to Saint Luke, (Edinburg: T. and T. Clark, 5th ed., 1969): p. 228. So they refer to Gerasenes. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. 22ff. The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. June 2016 and our We will examine two incidents -- the stilling of the storm on the sea of Galilee, and that which follows immediately, the healing of the demoniac. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? 23, 24, viii. 7. It is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. Clarify "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." Demonic influence further destroys mans reflection of God as originally designed.128 Demons have great spiritual insight and reluctantly submit to Jesus as Lord of all. If he was a pagan, why did Jesus cast out his demons? It was opposite Galilee. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. The exercising of authority over demons, in the land under another god, was a message. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. This is probably the Gerasa of Mark and Luke. They were content where they were. Acts 19:16). 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. March 2018 For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. But, Im telling you. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. July 2020 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. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. 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. The first two are in the Authorized Version. Having been properly warned of the demonic underworld, let us not fall into the opposite error of absolute paranoia. Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. ESV - 118 H. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Where did the demons go after they went into the pigs and caused them to jump to their death. Region of the Gerasenes - Fire and Light Luke 8:37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. September 2018 In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). 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. Five squad cars converged on it. 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? September 2015 Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! Well, it is because atheists, in their zealous rush to make fun of Christians, Christianity, and the Bible, start to lose their logical rigor and rationality, leading them to contend for implausible things: as presently. The region was not poor or economically depressed. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. January 2023 Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. This supposition would be further confirmed, if the evening when Jesus embarked was what the Jews were wont to call the first evening, that is, the time when the sun was declining in the heaven, but before it had actually set, the latter time being the second evening. For it seems most unlikely that multitudes would have resorted to Jesus at Capernaum after the second evening, or that either the disciples or other boats would have put to sea after nightfall. Matthew 8:28 - 29, 31, 34And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? He was also humorous in his answers. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. His animal-like shrieks must have sent chills up the spines of any who were nearby. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. 606-607. Vote Up 15; Mark ix. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. May 2016 Those demons were terrified of Him! Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or 110 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3. February 2015 In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. 21,22). Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). August 2016 Gerasenes could have had a sense of reference to the entire region (as well as to a city: just as New Yorker can refer to the state or city), and Gadarenes likely was a reference to the most prominent city of the region at the time.
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