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. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. Who do you care more about, people or pigs? "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. He obviously attracted crowds. He also maintains a popular Facebook page. Understand the meaning of Luke 8:37 using all available Bible versions and commentary. Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? Who was afraid of Jesus and why? Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate). May 2022 There is, as we know, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. A friend of mine told me later that two students were attempting to cast a demon out of a fellow. The healing of the demoniacs and the repulse of the Healer by the inhabitants are historical, but the incident of the swine is a later figment. Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant. March 2021 June 2022 Demon possession, such as that of the Gerasene demoniac is the crudest and cruelest form of Satanic control, but by and large also one of the less common manifestations of Satans work in the world today. So who was afraid? 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. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. But having recalled a passage in Ephesians, I realize now that this man is a reminder of the dilemma of every man, woman, and child who have not come to a saving dependence upon the work of Jesus Christ for sinners on the cross. January 2022 The Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. March 2020 (London: InterVarsity Fellowship, 1950), fn. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. 23, 24, viii. 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. 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. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. The lectionary reading for Trinity 1, Year C, is Luke's version of Jesus meeting and healing the demon-possessed man in the 'region of the Gerasenes' (Luke 8.26-39). No matter where you are on life's journey you are welcome here! Some of the proposed answers to this question are totally unacceptable to an orthodox, evangelical Christian.123 By way of explanation, there are several factors which should be given serious consideration. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. People who have no appr 13ff.). Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or June 2016 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. He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. March 2018 The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. July 2022 They came face-to-face with the Son of God, the Being with the power to change their world forever, and they said, "Please leave." Why? The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). Verse 1. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. But, Im telling you. The exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac (Matthew 8.28-34; Mark 5.1-20; Luke 8.26-39), frequently known as the Miracle of the (Gadarene) Swine and the exorcism of Legion, is one of the miracles performed by Jesus according to the New Testament. Although it is likely that the larger towns of Galilee were predominantly Gentile, as was the Decapolis, the first-century civilian diet did not . No matter who you are. The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. rev2023.3.3.43278. May the Spirit of God be so evident in us that men may see God in our lives. 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. As we pass from this section to the next, let us not end on the note of the death of the pigs, but on the deliverance of the demoniac. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? I understand why," the HBO "Real Time" host told Jake Tapper on Tuesday as part . David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. So he got into a boat and returned. Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. The drowning of the swine was an accident, possibly simultaneous with the healing, and report mixed up the two incidents. The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. August 2021 Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! The people of Gerasenes were willing to live with the devils they knew - quite literally. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. 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. As always, we must begin with the principle: Interpretation is one, application is many. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. 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). August 2016 Men in their unbelief suppose that the choice is either to be free (independent of God) or to be the slaves of Christ. Thus, it is not always used of one specific country (nation), but rather, usually to regions or areas of either small (Bethlehem) or large (Judaea and Samaria) size, including regions surrounding large cities. October 2017 The story shows Jesus exorcising a demon or demons out of a man and into a herd of swine, causing the swine to run down a hill into a lake and drown . And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another . Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). (2) Anti-social behavior. The district of the Gerasenes probably included that of the Gadarenes; so that the demoniac of Gergesa belonged to the country of the Gadarenes and also to that of the Gerasenes, as the same person may, with equal truth, be said to live in the city or the state, or in the United States. He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. I will not look for a reason to return to it. Wikipedia states about it: In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.. Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? September 2018 Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. (it should be added that Plummer himelf does not hold to any of these views.). seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 68f. (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? 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. Ouija boards are found in many American homes. 123 1. 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. The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. My office mate of several years back was interrupted by a young and very zealous new Christian teacher accompanied by a student from whom she wanted my friend to cast out a demon. 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. 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. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. where something similar occurs) is a demon-possession mentioned, and that outside the Gospels it is referred to only twice in the New Testament (Acts xvi. So, they asked Him to leave. Many New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than the Gergesenes. Why is this even an issue, I wonder? Another reason they may have been afraid of Jesus was the realization that if they accepted Him, it would mean a radical change of lifestyle. Acts 16:16), while others were the virtual pawns of these spirits, losing their own identity and autonomy. May 2016 (3) Our Lord was moved with compassion by the torment of Legion and the loss of these pigs should in no way dim our view of the deliverance of the demoniac. Even in our sophisticated times, there is an intense interest in the supernatural and the occult. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. 3 When the centurion 2 heard about Jesus, c he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his . 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. Is it a bug? The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. And they were afraid. 61-62. It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. July 2018 September 2015 To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. These men were a danger to themselves and others. Having been properly warned of the demonic underworld, let us not fall into the opposite error of absolute paranoia. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. xvii. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. and thank you for your contribution. So he got into the boat and left. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 2 Now a centurion had a servant 1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ii. How to prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? 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. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. This would also give time afterwards for the dispersion, not only into the city, but into the country of them who had fed the swine. Bible-believing Christians have always accepted the fact of demons and their activity in New Testament times, but most of us are inclined to relegate demonic activity in these days to pagan lands and missionary experiences. 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. Even as the purpose of Roman legions was to enforce the will of the emperor, the goal of the multiple evil spirits was to carry out the devil's will of bringing pain, destruction and chaos to humans! December 2016 How Satan blinds our minds! Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. August 2020 Hence it would be called the land of the Gadarenes.. February 2015 Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. It was greatly influenced by Greek culture.126. April 2016 Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? 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. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. Life with him would be heaven on earth. Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs In Gerasenes Remember the story of Jesus casting demons out of the crazy man in Luke 8? They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. "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." April 2022 John 8:32; Matthew 11:28-30), or to be the pawns of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). A Jewish exorcist with such authority in the region, risked to damage the beliefs and reputation of the local pagan inhabitants. Jesus was saying, (demonstrating) that He had all authority, in any land. Then the Livestock Association and consumer groups would have been greatly distressed over the sudden decrease in the pig population and the resulting impact on pork prices. 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. Mark 3:14). 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Lets face it, we all like to be in control. 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. Acts 5:1-6). 14). Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. He was also humorous in his answers. The Lord granted the only request of these residents, which was for Him to leave. In the third chapter of Marks Gospel, our Lords miraculous works were attributed by His opponents to the power of Satan (verse 22). Why would Jesus ask, "Who touched Me?" The expression to be with Jesus is used particularly of His disciples (cf. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. The people who witnessed this are . May 2020 21,22). Those demons were terrified of Him! Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. 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). No! In any event, I love defending the Bible and Christianity. January 2016 Far from this, He had stormed the gates of Hell and prevailed. The second question is an ethical one: What right had the Lord to inflict this loss on the owners of the swine?121 Put even more crassly, Huxley censored this act with these words: the wanton destruction of other peoples property is a misdemeanour of evil example.122. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. Catholic Church. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. 122 Quoted by Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to Saint Luke, (Edinburg: T. and T. Clark, 5th ed., 1969): p. 228. For more information, please see our How ironic, as others have noted, that the tormentor pleads not to be tormented. 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. Read the Scripture: Mark 4:35 - 5:20. Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. 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. Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. Although Gadarenes and Gergesenes are derived from a different Greek word, they are essentially referring to the same area. People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. 7. When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. NEW STAR WARS MERCH PAGE: https://bit.ly/3baWVZv For all sponsorship and business inquiries please contact: thestupendousscrub@gmail.com NEW CHANNEL: https:/. Why as the question? Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. 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. In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. The swine then immediately killed themselves by rushing off a cliff. It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. Satan loves those Christians. According to another theory, the Chapati movement of 1857 was an attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak in central India. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. Cookie Notice The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. Dave Armstrong Dave Armstrong is a full-time Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981. 2ff., xvv. 5. In Luke 2:8 it is applied to the city of Bethlehem; in Acts 18:23 to Galatia and Phrygia. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. 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. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 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. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. They all say country of (in the sense of region, not nation). Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. November 2021 The entrance of the term into colloquial speech indicates that the Roman occupation was a heavy burden. No! The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. Fear that you might do something that would embarrass you? 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Luke 8 Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. 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. As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. November 2022 Ridiculous? 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. The religious rulers hated Jesus for exposing their hypocrisy and feared the consequences His actions might have with Rome, but they were not afraid of Jesus as a Person. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. 113 According to the Talmud there were four characteristics of madness: walking abroad at night; spending the night on a grave; tearing ones clothes and destroying what one was given. A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. It only takes a minute to sign up. These people did not want to change. xiii. July 2015 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. 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. The spectrum ranges from those who seem to control the demonic powers to those who are utterly controlled by them. Textual variations have compounded the problem. This is when the storm arose which threatened to destroy the ship (Mark 4:35-41). If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. Luke 8:26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. If an Israelite, why was he in Gerasene in the first place and why was he living so near a large herd of swine? Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). - 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. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 8; Mark vi. Lets learn why. They were content where they were. 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. 40, vii. The whole story is a myth. Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? Jesus asked some pretty crazy questions like What Things Happened? 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. Clarify Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. We read at Mk 5:14-17 (NRSVCE), the immediate after-effects of the driving out of evil spirits by Jesus at Gerasene by allowing them to enter pigs: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. You are welcome here. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? Nevertheless, for consideration. 1, pp. You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. xvi. (4) Our Lord did not command the demons to enter into the pigs and bring about their destruction; He only permitted it.124. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine . Let me say as graciously as I can, Satan does not need to work on us in those areas as we are doing very well without his exploitation. Unfortunately, Christians [or those using the name] can be harsh, condemning and critical driving people further into sin and away from God. The Gospels use different names for the place where this occurred: This is supposedly a contradiction. Gerasa is (as we know) some 30-35 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, but may have also been the name of the larger region. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. Non-Christians can often experience this fear of Jesus as well. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. 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. May 2017 Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah.
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