Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. They had been unable to control these two men [Luke only mentions one man, but Matthew tells us there were two]. May 2016 August 2021 All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperat For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. 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. 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. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). Verse 1. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. Nor was it the Jewish population of Galilee. But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. But from all of the Gospel accounts, I get the distinct impression that this mans eyes were riveted on Jesus. 13; Luke iv. 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). Jesus has lead me away from my old life. 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. 16ff., xix. Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs 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. 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?" . The whole story is a myth. As these people began to piece together the previous events, not only of the destruction of the pigs, but also the deliverance of Legion, they began to sense that there was One far more awesome, much more to be feared, than Legion. They became as afraid of Jesus as the demons were. 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. The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. Gerasenes, Gadarenes, Pigs and "Contradictions" - NCR There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. The spread of cholera was linked to the movements of . July 2016 To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 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. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. 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. 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. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. 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. The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. 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]. 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. COMMENTARY: Atheism is generally the expression of a moral attitude more than a real intellectual conviction based on evidence thought through. 3. 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). More from Medium Jameson Steward in. April 2020 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. How Satan blinds our minds! And Jesus, being a Gentleman, was not about to force Himself on them. 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). 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. 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). Fear that you might do something that would embarrass you? No matter where you are on life's journey you are welcome here! (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. The pigs had been driven mad and rushed down a steep slope plunging into the lake and drowning. July 2015 The first two are in the Authorized Version. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. So who was afraid? This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. (1) As Lord of all, God has the right to make use of His creation any way that He deems best, and this includes not only pigs, but people (cf. man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus (Luke 8:26-39, NIV) People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. March 2017 Afraid of Jesus? | Sermons | College Park Church Satan loves those Christians. I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. Textual variations have compounded the problem. Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. (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. Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. 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. 26). April 2018 How many demons possessed the man in Mark 5:6? Note that the texts dont say Gerasa or Gadara, so they arent necessarily referring just to one of the cities. That is not the choice at all. Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC No matter who you are. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, Nevertheless, for consideration. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. No matter where you are on life's journey. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. June 2015 Region of the Gerasenes - Fire and Light Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. This makes sense, I couldn't believe they asked Jesus to leave. Why did the Gerasenes become afraid when they saw that the - Reddit to men facing fear and death. But the city of Gadara owned some territory round about Khersa, so that the district and the pigs could properly also be called Gadarene. F. F. Bruce, Are the New Testament Documents Reliable? Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? 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. She is a graduate of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University and Chicago Theological Seminary. Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. Luke 8 Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! 14ff. One is that he was a fascinating man. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 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.. Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! October 2017 Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. The most likely answer is to the country of the Gerasenes: i.e., Gerasa, a Greek town thought to be the same as the similarly-named Kersa on the east shore of Lake Tiberias. 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? Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. "The trains were . Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 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. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). Until we decide on a new comic, you'll likely see a gray box where "Dilbert" had appeared. Jude 6), no longer to afflict men or resist God. They look forward to their future with great dread. 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. Is it a bug? "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. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). 21,22). (1) Severe personality change. 9. 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 asked why people are afraid of commitment and relationships and some said they are afraid because they fear being hurt again. 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. e.g., Matt. 123 1. Who Was Afraid Of Jesus And Why? 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? Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? Definition of Gadarenes (Gergesenes) in the Bible - Bible Study 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. 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. The capital of the region was Gerasa, and the largest city in the region was Gadera. 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). Cookie Notice The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? Luke 8:25 "Where is your faith?" He asked. Frightened and amazed, they The Secret behind Jesus Healing the Gerasene Demoniac August 2016 Far from this, He had stormed the gates of Hell and prevailed. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. What would happen to them? Finally, there is in demon possession a counterpart to the filling (or control) of the Holy Spirit. But notice, even though Jesus permitted them to enter the swine, they were unable to overcome their evil impulses and drove the swine over the cliff to their death. 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. If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. His animal-like shrieks must have sent chills up the spines of any who were nearby. The Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. 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. Gadara, though not directly named in Scripture, was part of the Decapolis. Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. If he was a pagan, why did Jesus cast out his demons? At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. He seemed to view Jesus approach as the launching of a direct attack on the demonic forces. November 2017 . People who have no appr Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. The swine then immediately killed themselves by rushing off a cliff. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. 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. This was a power far beyond anything they had seen or even imagined. Clarify Luke seems to base this fear solely upon what happened to the demoniac, not on the loss of their pigs. The demons in the man recognize Jesus and the man bows before him. 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). Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? It was greatly influenced by Greek culture.126. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. A Lesson From the Gadarenes - Sabbath Thoughts Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. 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. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus - Quora May 2022 It should also be observed that nowhere in the Old Testament (except in I Sam. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 05 /5 Another theory. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. September 2021 Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. 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. 68f. Unbelieving men may not rave and carry on like the Gerasene demoniac, but they are nevertheless under Satans control, doing his bidding. Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. - 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. 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. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. 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. Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. Many times people - Non-Christians and Christians - push Jesus away because they do not want to change. They were content where they were. These people did not want to change. Even in our sophisticated times, there is an intense interest in the supernatural and the occult. 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. Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. They are unclean spirits, (vss. 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Men and women (as well as children) were demonized in that they fell under the influence of these unclean spirits. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20 Should TikTok be banned? Your guide to understanding why the platform HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. The man looked out on the Tiberius. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. Life with him would be heaven on earth. No one was strong enough to subdue him (verses 3,4). I understand why," the HBO "Real Time" host told Jake Tapper on Tuesday as part . The demonically possessed man who came to Jesus cried out his name was Legion. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? and 1 Kings xxii. Treasury of Scripture. Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. 0 Responses March 2016 Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. July 2017 Non-Christians can often experience this fear of Jesus as well. 4, p. 180. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. The passage in Daniel especially suggests specific geographical boundaries within which spirit beings must abide. Embedded into both stories are people who were afraid of Jesus. They all say country of (in the sense of region, not nation). Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate).
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why were the gerasenes afraid