15; Mark ix. The possessed pigs plunged down a hillside into the lake, where they drowned. conquest of Syria in 65 b.c. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Most scholars today would agree with Origen that near Gergesa was the precise site for the healing of Legion. It was a small village about midway along the E shore of the Sea of Galilee. v. 37) describe Jesus' healing of the demoniac "Legion" and . Vote Up Traces of ancient buildings in the vicinity show that there must have been a fairly numerous population in the district.2. If we had a video livestream of a clock being sent to Mars, what would we see? Jude 6), no longer to afflict men or resist God. and 1 Kings xxii. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). Two paved streets with double colonnades cut through the city at right angles, four massive pedestals still marking the point of intersection. 14:22-36. 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. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. June 15, 2004. Let's open our Bibles to the 8th chapter of Luke's gospel. Then he put his reassuring hand on the man's shoulder again and said, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.". Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). [The natural spirit of the man seeking to throw off the dominion of the demons would cry out in agony, and the demons themselves, in their own misery, would use him as a vehicle to express their own grief. Were the writers of the synoptic gospel accounts confused about where Jesus was when He healed the men? Demonized individuals are not to be viewed so much as a pigeon hole category, as they are a continuem. How ironic, as others have noted, that the tormentor pleads not to be tormented. No! We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . The crowd's murmuring crescendoed into anxious pleas: "Please leave! Ewing. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. It shows that the writers had not agreed to impose on the world; for if they had, they would have mentioned the same city; and it shows, also, they were familiar with the country. Jesus, Go Away! | Theology of Work In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. (3) Spiritual insight. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. 61-62. 120 The request is in both cases the same; for, according to Jewish notions, certain countries being assigned to evil as well as to good spirits, whose limits they were unable to overpass, to be sent out of their own country, no other being open to them, implied being sent into the abyss, or bottomless pit, since that remains for them alone. Trench, Miracles , p. 101. Ptolemy says Gerasa was a city in Coele-Syria, thirty-five travel m. from Pella. The New Testament writers chose to refer to the area in different ways. Or are we saying, in effect, Jesus, go away!? It only takes a minute to sign up. In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. 5:2-3? 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. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. All accounts involve Jesus exorcising demons, identified collectively in Mark and Luke as "Legion". Now he knew better. The reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. xii. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). John imagines what the back-story of this man might have been and explores themes of redemption and reconciliation. 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. For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. 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.. You are being sent because there are other tomb-people to free. He is the author of. One problem was this man's racehe was a Gentile, whereas Jesus had been sent to the nation of Israel (cf. Amen. The Gadarenes' Rejection | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at The story begins in the region of the Gerasenes on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. 22, xvii. Why typically people don't use biases in attention mechanism? Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. What Is hyssop and why Is It so significant in the Bible? The distance is about 19 miles from the river. 31. The Demonized Man of the Garasenes (Luke 8:26-39) - JesusWalk [1] 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 themselves. There is a lot we do not know about the Decapolis, but we know enough to be enlightened concerning Jesus' visits to this Hellenistic area. Albert Barnes explained the difference between Gadara and Gerasa: Gadara was a city not far from the Lake Gennesareth, one of the ten cities that were called Decapolis. But Christianity early became important in the city; several churches were built during these centuries, so that by the 5th cent., Gerasa could send a bishop to the Council of Chalcedon. So, they asked Him to leave. The man looked out on the Tiberius. Did they open their hearts to hear the good news of the kingdom of God? His lucid mind mulled over the words, "Son of the Most High God.". (BJ, I, iv, 8). [14], Similarly, Thomas Aquinas argued that Jesus allowed the demons to destroy the pigs in order to make the point that his purpose was primarily for the good of men's souls, not their bodies or property (including their animals). Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? 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. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. How Many Times Did Jesus Go To Gerasenes - Foxwell Tindin A noise made them all turn back toward the hill. A few men went on to survey the dead floating herd. Then he notes that he was clothed and in his own mind (Luke 8:35). Sometimes to follow Jesus means being sent back to a place where we once knew desolation and indescribable pain. 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. They look forward to their future with great dread. Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? Gergesa [probably a variation of GerasaCC] was a city about 12 miles to the south-east of Gadara, and about 20 miles to the east of the Jordan. 5:5). They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. Why does Jesus tell several people that He heals not to tell anyone, but in John 8:39 He tells the man healed of a legion to go and tell everyone? (1) Severe personality change. Contributors: Mark D. Roberts Published by The High Calling, March 11, 2011. Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. 7th District AME Church: God First Holy Conference 2023 - Facebook In the 2nd cent. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome But sometimes, like the man in Luke 8:26-39, the more difficult call is to go back home. [4], The Gospel of Matthew shortens the story dramatically (Matthew 8:2834) and writes not of one possessed man, but of two. There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. Vector Projections/Dot Product properties. Barnes, Albert (1949), Notes on the New Testament: Matthew and Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker). Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). The presence of a copious spring of sweet water makes it probable that the site has been occupied from olden time; but no trace remains of any ancient city. Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac - Wikipedia Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) [9], The revealing of the demon's name has parallels with other examples in Jewish exorcism lore in the Second Temple period. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. led to the substitute reading Gergesenes, a reading that was suggested by a study of the geography of the area. Luke 8:26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. The entrance of the term into colloquial speech indicates that the Roman occupation was a heavy burden. Such was the case with this man (cf. We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . Men and women (as well as children) were demonized in that they fell under the influence of these unclean spirits. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. 4. 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). The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. One man: Mark 5:1-2, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the . Thats just westernised interpretation which simply doesnt work when interpretating a Jewish book. 5 1-5 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. No rage. He was used to seeing fear in their eyes. Published Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Ananias and Sapphira did so by allowing their greed to grip their hearts (cf. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. He was sitting at Jesus feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane (8:35), thus serving as a vivid demonstration of the saving, healing power of Jesus. The textual evidence shows that the MSS preserve three variant spellings of the name in each gospel. There is no true freedom and fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer of men. Jon Bloom serves as teacher and cofounder of Desiring God. [3] This interpretation has been shared by a long line of commentators up to the present day, including I. Howard Marshall and Mark Driscoll. John 8:32; Matthew 11:28-30), or to be the pawns of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). Jesus, be my healer. Bible Map: Gerasa Girard notes that, in the demoniac's self-mutilation, he seems to imitate the stoning that the local villagers would likely have attempted to use against him to cast him out of their society, while the villagers themselves show by their reaction to Jesus that they are not primarily concerned with the good of the man possessed by demons: Notice the mimetic character of this behavior. Gergesa, Gerasa, or Gadara? Apologetics Press is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the defense of New Testament Christianity. (5) Torment. 9. Country of the Gerasenes: The town itself is not named in Scripture, and is referred to only in the expression, "country of the Gerasenes" ( Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26,37; see Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Appendix, 11). Joseph blessed his 12 sons and prophesied over each. 118 H. It would seem that these people had no Messianic expectations, and therefore wanted nothing to do with One Who had such awesome power, a power over which they had no control. It is in no way certain, however, that the pig raisers were Jews. My ways are subtler, and for this reason perhaps even more insidious. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. "Doesn't Jesus Treat Animals as Property?". Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! Thus an economic lose of revenue was involved. Reland (Pal, II, 806) notes certain extant coins of Gerasa, from which it is clear that in the 2nd century it was a center of the worship of Artemis. 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. In a cemetery on the eastern shore of the lake, He and the twelve meet a wild, dangerous man controlled by a ''legion'' of demons. A city in Transjordania, situated about thirty-five m. SE of the S end of the Sea of Galilee, one of the cities of the Decapolis; the inhabitants of the city. 4, p. 102. 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. 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. Description:Modern Jerash lies on both banks of Wady Jerash, about 6 miles from its confluence with Wady ez-Zerqa (the Jabbok). In his description of the boundaries of Perea, Josephus mentions Gerasa as one of the cities on the eastern boundary between Perea and Arabia, the other border cities being Philadelphia and Sebonitus (Jos. Evil is self-defeating in the end. Learn more about these miraculous stories found in the Bible. 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. To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. Clothing is an important prop in the Lucan narrative (see Biblical clothing), which in this scene portrays the demoniacs development from his animal-like state to his restoration as a human being. At this distance from the Sea of Galilee, Gerasa could not have been the site of the healing of Legion. It is doubtful that Jesus ever visited it. Spam, July 19 2021 Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. Far from this, He had stormed the gates of Hell and prevailed. A Summary and Analysis of Jesus and the Gadarene Swine Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. A city in Transjordania, situated about thirty-five m. SE of the S end of the Sea of Galilee, one of the cities of the Decapolis; the inhabitants of the city. density matrix. Jesus was potently kind. No, on the contrary, they begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them (8:37). [14][3] Such alternative readings include arguments that the swine were meant to represent the Roman army or "unclean and unfaithful" people because pigs were considered "unclean" for the Jews in this image, and the loss of these animals was not dangerous. Two men: Matt. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Are there things that perplex you? 16ff., xix. 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. Were on a mission to change that. 68f. 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. It indicates full and permanent control. As an alternative to confinement, the demons posed the option of being permitted to enter the pigs, some 2,000 in number, feeding nearby. Matt 10:5-6; 15:24). The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. 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). Once naked, he is now clothed. No! 9. A small crowd of people was approaching, with the pig herdsmen leading the way. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. (Jos. When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. Says he is "the bread of life"; many are stumbled and leave 6:22-71. Modern Jerash lies on both banks of Wady Jerash, about 6 miles from its confluence with Wady ez-Zerqa (the Jabbok). This town is not to be confused with either Gerasa or Gadara. He himself earnestly desired to stay with Jesus, knowing that Jesus had saved him an otherwise completely hopeless and unremediable condition. (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. Gerasa; Gerasenes - Meaning and Verses in Bible Encyclopedia Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? But Jesus motioned to Peter to ready the boat. This makes sense, I couldn't believe they asked Jesus to leave. He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. 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. At times, my honest prayer might be: Lord, yes, do in me the things I want you to do. The herd, about two thousand in number, rush down the steep bank into the sea and are drowned. Capernaum. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. No one could restrain himhe couldn't be chained, couldn't be tied down. In the third chapter of Marks Gospel, our Lords miraculous works were attributed by His opponents to the power of Satan (verse 22). Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. Significantly, the demons are called unclean spirits (verse 2,9). How Satan blinds our minds! And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Sunday, April 23, 2023 Tell us where you're. It was the terror of the damned. This topical nine-session Bible study contains tips and encouragement to live a life of generosity and fruitfulness, helping us to redeem our use of resources by nurturing biblical attitudes. 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. 6:30-44. The tomb-man felt confusion and grief. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore . What does Mark 5:1 mean? | BibleRef.com In retaliation for the massacre of the Jews at Caesarea, the Jews sent several raiding parties into the Gentile cities of the Decapolis. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. Everyone strained for a look at the tomb-man. This reversal of the scapegoat mechanism by Jesus is central to Girard's entire reading of Christianity, and this reversal is on display in this story as well. 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. This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. War IV. Are we welcoming him into our lives? This was a federation of ten cities (deka = ten, polis = city). Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). 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. tar command with and without --absolute-names option. And, Gerasene was one. [3], The earliest account, assuming the theory of Marcan priority is correct, is in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 5:120). Theology of Work Project Online Materials by The High Calling are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Gerasa is mentioned next by Josephus in connection with the Jewish rebellion against the Romans in a.d. 70.

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