. They look forward to their future with great dread. But, Im telling you. 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. They are happy in their sin and the consequences seem far away. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 0 Responses Men in their unbelief suppose that the choice is either to be free (independent of God) or to be the slaves of Christ. Demons are highly organized (cf. November 2017 I will not ask him to leave. Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). 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. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. September 2018 His greatest impact would be on those who knew his former state. This was surely not so in every case, and perhaps in none. 05 /5 Another theory. The Lord refused this request and commissioned this delivered man to return to his own people and declare to them what God had done for him. 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. 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! For example, He didnt condemn a prostitute for her actions, He saw a daughter of God who was valuable beyond measure and only needed genuine love and forgiveness. 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). He was a totally safe Person. The spread of cholera was linked to the movements of . Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. ESV - 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. The Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 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. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Asked October 24 2014 Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? Is it a bug? Unfortunately, Christians [or those using the name] can be harsh, condemning and critical driving people further into sin and away from God. April 2022 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. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. One is to disbelieve in their existence. December 2014 or school. For some people, the cost is too high. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. They were willing to post guards and chain and shackle their neighbor to keep him from hurting someone. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. 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]. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. 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. January 2022 Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or The people were afraid when they saw the possessed man healed. Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs In Gerasenes Remember the story of Jesus casting demons out of the crazy man in Luke 8? 2). The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. 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. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1991. 15; Mark ix. 68f. Christians are to be the answer, but often they are part of the problem. 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. Here is one of the few times that a miracle drove people away, rather than to draw them to Jesus. Confusion, fear in moments after crash "There were many big pieces of steel," said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. 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. Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". October 2020 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? Thats why also Peter having realized who Christ was, was dreaded and asked Him to leave him for he said to be a sinful man (Luke 5:8). Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. 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. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. More from Medium Jameson Steward in. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. For more information, please see our They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Unbelieving men may not rave and carry on like the Gerasene demoniac, but they are nevertheless under Satans control, doing his bidding. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. 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. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. The first two are in the Authorized Version. Gergesenes is also in some manuscripts (Khersa or Gersa was a town actually on the shore of the sea). The New Testament speaks of those who had a spirit, or a demon, or demons, or an unclean spirit, or the spirit of an unclean demon, but chiefly of persons who were demonised. Edersheim, Life and Times, I, p. 479. 9. recognizes the military background of the term, pointing out that in the imperial period a legion consisted of 6000 foot soldiers, 120 horsemen and technical personnel. 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. From this it is clear that demon-possession is a phenomenon which occurred almost exclusively, but then to be sure on an amazing scale, during Jesus appearance on earth and to a lesser extent during the activity of the apostles. (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. 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. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). 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. He shivered at the disturbing memory. 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. As the world's top superpower, how unsure of itself can the US be to . It hit them hard in the pocketbook. 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 the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. He seemed to view Jesus approach as the launching of a direct attack on the demonic forces. Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization 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. He obviously attracted crowds. Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. August 2020 Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. 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. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. especially fn. 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 . Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. 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. Thats just westernised interpretation which simply doesnt work when interpretating a Jewish book. 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). Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. 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. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 124 Augustine: The devils were driven out and permitted to go into the swine; and Aquinas: But that the swine were driven into the sea was no work of the divine miracle, but was the work of the devils by divine permission. Quoted by Trench, Miracles, fn. Why do people like Jesus a lot? (2) Anti-social behavior. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. Fear that you would not be in control? In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. The people of Gerasenes were willing to live with the devils they knew - quite literally. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. Verse 1. 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. To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. August 2015 It was significant. February 2015 And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. Jesus had been performing miracles in Gods nation - Israel. Spam. No matter who you are. 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 best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Luke 8 January 2015 F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. 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? If he was a pagan, why did Jesus cast out his demons? If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. 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. 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! These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. 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. January 2017 Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. 2. The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). 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). 4. It became one of the proudest cities of Syria. It was situated some 30 miles southeast of Gadara, on the borders of Peraea and a little north of the river Jabbok. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? The destructive desires of the demons were dramatically carried out in the drowning of the swine. 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! Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? Embedded into both stories are people who were afraid of Jesus. Nor was it the Jewish population of Galilee. 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.. As has been said before, look for Satans man behind the pulpit. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. If an Israelite, why was he in Gerasene in the first place and why was he living so near a large herd of swine? There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? Gadara is about six miles from the sea. 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. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. 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. These men were a danger to themselves and others. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. 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. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. in a crowd in a crowd where many people were bumping into Him? Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 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. 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). (6) Tendency towards self-destruction. The presence of holiness and, moreover, the most intense divine holiness is undesirable; I mean, unless you are an angel or a saintly recluse in his ascetic toils in a cave or a top of a pillar. 14. (2) Pork was a food forbidden to Jews, and as such, those who raised these pigs may have done so knowingly in violation of divine injunction. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. Where did the demons go after they went into the pigs and caused them to jump to their death. He did not appear to rush upon the small group of men to attack them (as he would normally have done), but rather to plead with Jesus. The center of personality, the volitional and active ego, is impaired by alien powers which seek to ruin the man and sometimes drive him to self-destruction (Mk. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. March 2021 No matter where you are on life's journey you are welcome here! The Lord, in an act of great mercy, freed the Gadarenes' man by casting the demons out of him and allowing them to enter a nearby herd of pigs. May 2021 Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? . Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. He was also humorous in his answers. The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. The passage in Daniel especially suggests specific geographical boundaries within which spirit beings must abide.
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why were the gerasenes afraid