December 2017 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? 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. . 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). August 2021 When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. As has been said before, look for Satans man behind the pulpit. Jesus asked some crazy questions like "Why are you afraid?" 4. 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. The confrontation between the powers of heaven and hell are nowhere seen in better perspective than in Marks account of the encounter of the Gerasene demoniac with our Lord Jesus Christ. . 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. There probably were not many who had been told yet of the Messiah, and so were not yet believers. They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Acts 16:16), while others were the virtual pawns of these spirits, losing their own identity and autonomy. (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? It should also be observed that nowhere in the Old Testament (except in I Sam. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. In any event, I love defending the Bible and Christianity. 40, vii. All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperat 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. First of all the Scriptures do not say that the local Pagans were afraid of Jesus, but that they merely begged him to leave their neighbourhood. He felt Jesus' reassuring hand on his shoulder. Why did the demons ask to be cast into the herd of pigs, and why did the pigs then run into the water to be drowned? "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. The people who witnessed this are . Instead of opening themselves up to Jesus and receiving His love and forgiveness, they allowed fear to drive a wedge between them. July 2018 Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? Why as the question? Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. But, Im telling you. Wikipedia states about it: In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.. Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs? 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). Is it a bug? Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. October 2015 Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). 13ff.). Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. 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. 14ff. I felt somewhat guilty, particularly fearing that I may have created an unintentional hardship for some classmate. Why would Jesus ask, "Who touched Me?" 68f. 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. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? 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. It is noteworthy that Jesus nowhere speaks of forgiveness of sins or of purification-sacrifices, that have to be brought after His curing of such cases (as He did in some cases of physical illness). A friend of mine told me later that two students were attempting to cast a demon out of a fellow. (it should be added that Plummer himelf does not hold to any of these views.). 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. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". November 2021 October 2021 Wasn't the answer obvious? Unbelieving men may not rave and carry on like the Gerasene demoniac, but they are nevertheless under Satans control, doing his bidding. For these demons to be sent out of the country would have meant that they would then be confined along with other fallen angels (cf. 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. But about a mile further south there is a fairly steep slope within forty yards from the shore, and about two miles from there cavern tombs are found which appear to have been used for dwellings. William L. Lane, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), p.181. Why would God tell King David to take a census of the people in verses one through nine, and then cast judgment on him because he did what he told him to do? It is not difficult to imagine what was going through the minds of the disciples as their ship landed and as these two demon possessed men rushed to them. Accordingly this was not merely an ordinary form of mental disease as some writers have alleged, but a special phenomenon which was particularly frequent during Jesus earthly sojourn and thus was directly connected with His coming to destroy the power of darkness. The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. January 2017 2ff., xvv. 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. They were content where they were. So who was afraid? This was surely not so in every case, and perhaps in none. Why did Jesus allow the legion of demons to stay in the area when they begged him? May 2015 123 1. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. 14). 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. To understand this event, you need consider the incident at Babel, and Deuteronomy. 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! It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. The entrance of the term into colloquial speech indicates that the Roman occupation was a heavy burden. This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. August 2022 He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. January 2022 You are welcome here. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. 5:5). They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. "The trains were . Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? There seems to be no excuse here for the charge of contradiction. Some illicitly use drugs, supposing that they have them completely under their control. 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. It is in no way certain, however, that the pig raisers were Jews. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. November 2017 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. They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. 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? So they refer to Gerasenes. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. 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. 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. They had heard what had happened to the pigs and knew the Jews considered Gentiles unclean, too. Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. One is to disbelieve in their existence. 14. 117 so that, by their own confession, a time is coming when there shall be an entire victory of the kingdom of light over that of darkness (Rev. Jesus asked Mary why she was crying at the grave site. 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. I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. What would happen to them? Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). 21,22). The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Understand the meaning of Luke 8:37 using all available Bible versions and commentary. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. March 2020 Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? Demon-possession is, therefore, not merely a mental state in which someone suffers from a delusion or is subjected to some subjective disturbance of the world of ideas. You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. The region and polygon don't match. What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? In this account we, by inference, learn much about the demonic spirits. November 2014. 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). 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. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. According to another theory, the Chapati movement of 1857 was an attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak in central India. One is that he was a fascinating man. His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. The destructive desires of the demons were dramatically carried out in the drowning of the swine. April 2021 A word of clarification is in order here for we must recognize that in this account the dark side of Satan is exposed, but this is perhaps the more unusual side of Satan. It was scary. 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! Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. Here is one of the few times that a miracle drove people away, rather than to draw them to Jesus. Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? 26). (3) Spiritual insight. August 2017 September 2020 It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. So much pain, so much sin. 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. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. December 2016 It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. The Lord granted the only request of these residents, which was for Him to leave. It only takes a minute to sign up. 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?" . What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! Pope Francis Inexhaustible Font of Words: 10 Gems From the Heart Over 10 Years, Pope Francis, Biden Commend Peacemaker Bishop OConnell as Memorial Services Begin. 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. 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. 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. How do I connect these two faces together? Five squad cars converged on it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. . (4) Our Lord did not command the demons to enter into the pigs and bring about their destruction; He only permitted it.124. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1991. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. Such was the case with this man (cf. First of all, the EPA would have been investigating the pollution of Lake Galilee with decaying pigs. 184-185. His website/blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, has been online since March 1997. 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. 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. "The name "Gerasenes" is to be associated with the modern city of Jerash, located in Transjordan, 22 miles N of Amman." John McRay, "Gerasenes," ed. He also maintains a popular Facebook page. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. How Can a Person Get Rid of Evil Spirits. Matt. Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. 2,8) who can possess men and animals. There is the so-called demon of doubt, of anger, of overindulgence, of drunkenness, laziness and so on. How to prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? Clarify Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant. April 2020 The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. . The lose of the pigs meant loose of partial income in the area. Events that are important to our Church Community, Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac. Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) Spam. - 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. January 2016 Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. June 2021 They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. Satan loves those Christians. At first we may deceive ourselves into thinking that we are controlling them, but the ultimate likelihood is that they will master us. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). To date they have failed to respond in any way. Based on all the evidence we have seen over the past four months with regards to ChatGPT and how it can be manipulated or even how it will lie . 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. Ouija boards are found in many American homes. And they were afraid. 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. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. 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. In Luke 2:8 it is applied to the city of Bethlehem; in Acts 18:23 to Galatia and Phrygia. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. Who was afraid of Jesus and why? verse 5). Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. This makes sense, I couldn't believe they asked Jesus to leave. Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? (1) Severe personality change. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. 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. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. Sproul says in his commentary on Mark, When the Holy One is manifest in the midst of unholy people, the only appropriate human response is dread.. He was also humorous in his answers. Verse 1. The whole story is a myth. (5) Torment. 7. For those near by the local name would be used; but in writing to a distant people, as the Greeks and Romans, the more comprehensive and general name would be given.. Acts 5:1-6). May 2016 xiii. 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. 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. Many times people - Non-Christians and Christians - push Jesus away because they do not want to change. As Jesus began to get back into the boat, the delivered demoniac pleaded with Him that he might accompany Him. 16ff., xix. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. He shivered at the disturbing memory. Embedded into both stories are people who were afraid of Jesus. And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another . 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. The demonically possessed man who came to Jesus cried out his name was Legion. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. Fear that you would not be in control? What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. 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 addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). This request was granted and the entire herd rushed headlong to their own destruction. April 2015 It was opposite Galilee. Note that the texts dont say Gerasa or Gadara, so they arent necessarily referring just to one of the cities. June 2015 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. 4, p. 180. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). Flavius Josephus and Steve Mason, Flavius Josephus: Life of Josephus (Boston; Leiden: Brill, 2003), 47. 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). "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. Although his symptoms would have appeared to be those of an insane man,113 the Gospel writers inform us that he was demon-possessed.114. April 2022 Matthew is habitually more oriented to a Jewish readership, and so he refers to Gadarenes because Gadara was the most important Jewish city in the area. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. By His power, we, too, are able to overcome Satans treacheries. As always, we must begin with the principle: Interpretation is one, application is many. The first two are in the Authorized Version. These men were a danger to themselves and others. When you get a chance, please take the, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. 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. 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. September 2022 NEW STAR WARS MERCH PAGE: https://bit.ly/3baWVZv For all sponsorship and business inquiries please contact: thestupendousscrub@gmail.com NEW CHANNEL: https:/. This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. August 2016 As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. March 2017 August 2018 Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. December 2021 February 2017 March 2018 Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 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. 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. 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. 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. The region was not poor or economically depressed. Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today.