why were the gerasenes afraid

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 demonically possessed man who came to Jesus cried out his name was Legion. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. No matter where you are on life's journey. December 2021 7. 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 neighbourhood. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. April 2017 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. 21,22). In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes. In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. And when the man spoke to Jesus, it looks like the demons inside the man were the ones doing the speaking. Asked October 24 2014 Jesus never interacted with people as they were, but as He knew they were created to be. 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? Ouija boards are found in many American homes. August 2018 It is mentioned in some ancient manuscripts of the . Events that are important to our Church Community, Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac. As has been said before, look for Satans man behind the pulpit. One is to disbelieve in their existence. 2. The pig tenders reported it far and wide, in city and country (verse 14). When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. He shivered at the disturbing memory. It might be better to hide behind masks than risk being hurt again After all, if God rejects youwhere else can you go? Nevertheless, for consideration. He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. October 2018 Fear that you might do something that would embarrass you? Why were the Romans afraid of the Christians? It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. Why is that. In any event, they were not Israelites, as indicated by the fact that a herd of swine was being kept nearby, which would have been forbidden by the Mosaic Law, since swine were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8). Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . February 2015 The swine then immediately killed themselves by rushing off a cliff. "The trains were . 1, pp. 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. He was also humorous in his answers. 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. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Early Christians like St. Polycarp clearly held the Catholic view on salvation. 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. 40, vii. Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . 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. 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. February 2022 November 2016 Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. 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. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. 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. 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? Then people came to see what it was that had happened. And the people went out to see what happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. The reference could hardly be to the better known Gerasa (Jerash) between thirty and forty miles southeast from the lake. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? June 2017 The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. It hit them hard in the pocketbook. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. 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. And, Gerasene was one. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. 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. (3) Spiritual insight. As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. These people did not want to change. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. Jesus had just performed an incredible miracleand one they desperately needed, at that! The region was not poor or economically depressed. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. 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. Thus an economic lose of revenue was involved. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. Many New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than the Gergesenes. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. Thayers Greek Lexicon defines it as the space lying between two places or limits region or country. The Sea of Galilee was clearly one of the limits. So they refer to Gerasenes. 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. Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. The people were afraid when they saw the possessed man healed. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. Men and women (as well as children) were demonized in that they fell under the influence of these unclean spirits. Wikipedia states about it: In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.. 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). Demonized individuals are not to be viewed so much as a pigeon hole category, as they are a continuem. 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. 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. No matter what men attempted to bind him with, he broke loose. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? or by some form of self-emptying (such as various forms of eastern meditation) in my opinion, they are in a precarious position. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. Why would Jesus ask, "Who touched Me?" With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. 2 Now a centurion had a servant 1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 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. May 2018 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. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. October 2021 At their request, He left. July 2017 For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). (3) Spiritual insight. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. 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. Follow Up: struct sockaddr storage initialization by network format-string, How do you get out of a corner when plotting yourself into a corner, Movie with vikings/warriors fighting an alien that looks like a wolf with tentacles. I will not look for a reason to return to it. November 2021 At the conclusion of this day of teaching by parables, the Lord had instructed His disciples to cross over the Sea of Galilee to the other side. . In any event, I love defending the Bible and Christianity. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. They look forward to their future with great dread. . 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? The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. 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 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. People who have no appr Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) 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. 16ff., xix. 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.. October 2022 Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. 4, p. 180. For the reason why this is so we refer the reader to the introduction preceding the exposition of verses 33-7. . They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Having been properly warned of the demonic underworld, let us not fall into the opposite error of absolute paranoia. (1) Severe personality change. The people who witnessed this are . Catholic Church. The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were So he got into the boat and left. November 2020 Another reason could be as Dr. R.C. I understand why," the HBO "Real Time" host told Jake Tapper on Tuesday as part . The Greeks were believers in the spirit world, but not necessarily convinced that demons were evil.127 As a result, Marks readers needed to be instructed as to the essential nature of demons and demon possession. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine . What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? It indicates full and permanent control. They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. Lets face it, we all like to be in control. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. Acts 19:16). The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 68f. and 1 Kings xxii. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. The destructive desires of the demons were dramatically carried out in the drowning of the swine. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. Matthew 12:43-45). What scared them was a power so fierce it could free a man. May 2016 ESV - They became as afraid of Jesus as the demons were. 13ff.). They had heard what had happened to the pigs and knew the Jews considered Gentiles unclean, too. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Five squad cars converged on it. Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant. How many demons possessed the man in Mark 5:6? and thank you for your contribution. 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. It is even possible that his request was to become one of our Lords disciples.125. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. As the servant of Elisha was told, Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). They would have to trust Jesus. So, they asked Him to leave. 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. 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. June 2016 He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or The lose of the pigs meant loose of partial income in the area. To date they have failed to respond in any way. What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? 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). Wasn't the answer obvious? Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. 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. 23, 24, viii. Satan loves those Christians. 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. The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. There is no true freedom and fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer of men. October 2017 Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs In Gerasenes Remember the story of Jesus casting demons out of the crazy man in Luke 8? In the wake of new restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, two American bishops spoke with EWTNs Raymond Arroyo Thursday about how their dioceses have responded. No one was strong enough to subdue him (verses 3,4). 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. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. December 2016 "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." Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). But, Im telling you. 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. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. Gergesa, also Gergasa ( in Byzantine greek) or the Country of the Gergesenes, is a place on the eastern ( Golan Heights) side of the Sea of Galilee located at some distance to the ancient Decapolis cities of Gadara and Gerasa. 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. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. 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). Father Macaire, 33, who was ordained fewer than two years ago, was kidnapped the morning of Feb. 7 when he was on his way to his missionary community in Kazal, about 20 miles north of Port-au-Prince. December 2014 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. 3. 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. 184-185. Who was afraid of Jesus and why? And he said to them, Where is your faith? Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? The whole story is a myth. Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? 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 pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. 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! But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. The reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. 26). December 2017 June 2022 Then the SPCA would have been up in arms over such cruelty to animals. Textual variations have compounded the problem. January 2023 There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. There is the so-called demon of doubt, of anger, of overindulgence, of drunkenness, laziness and so on. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. Rev. 111 Edersheim maintains that it must have been late the same night of the storm: Most writers have, indeed, suggested, that the healing of the demonized on the other side took place at early dawn of the day following the storm on the lake. 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. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. How Satan blinds our minds! 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. 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. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. Clarify The passage in Daniel especially suggests specific geographical boundaries within which spirit beings must abide. 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. 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. 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. ii. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). 8; Mark vi. Jesus is conscious that He now breaks the power of the devil and his angels because He is the One in whom the dominion of God is present on behalf of humanity. W. Foerster, as quoted by Lane, Mark, fn. "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. verse 5). Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Men in their unbelief suppose that the choice is either to be free (independent of God) or to be the slaves of Christ. 13; Luke iv. 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. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. 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). He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. So he got into the boat and left. 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. We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. (4) Our Lord did not command the demons to enter into the pigs and bring about their destruction; He only permitted it.124. nhcp art forms involved, paul martinez obituary, jersey city fire department residency requirements,

Is Hinton Still Alive And Where Does She Live, Museum Of Discovery Discount, Can D2l Tell When You Switch Tabs, Articles W