I felt somewhat guilty, particularly fearing that I may have created an unintentional hardship for some classmate. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. They were willing to post guards and chain and shackle their neighbor to keep him from hurting someone. Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. I was in a dialogue with an atheist regarding what he believes is one of many so-called biblical contradictions. Odd guy that I am, I actually find this sort of thing fun. 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). He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. Life with him would be heaven on earth. 5. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. 3. April 2022 So they refer to Gerasenes. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 3); they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day (Jude 6); and what the unclean spirits deprecate here, is the bringing in, by anticipation, of that final doom. R. C. Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1949), p. 100. In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. How do I connect these two faces together? The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. Smiths Bible Dictionary provides what I find to be a quite plausible explanation (not special pleading at all), and analogous to how we still use place names today: These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. 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. July 2015 No matter what men attempted to bind him with, he broke loose. NEW STAR WARS MERCH PAGE: https://bit.ly/3baWVZv For all sponsorship and business inquiries please contact: thestupendousscrub@gmail.com NEW CHANNEL: https:/. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. As always, we must begin with the principle: Interpretation is one, application is many. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. art thou come hither to torment us before the time? January 2017 Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 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. What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? If anything, that would have made them angry. 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. Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. It was scary. 68f. 184-185. 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. 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. October 2015 EIN 27-4581132 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 . and 1 Kings xxii. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. He felt Jesus' reassuring hand on his shoulder. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . But from all of the Gospel accounts, I get the distinct impression that this mans eyes were riveted on Jesus. Lets learn why. 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. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. 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. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. 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. It was greatly influenced by Greek culture.126. For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. 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. December 2015 It is Geldenhuys who gives us the most concise description of demon-possession: in the New Testament demon-possession means that a person is dominated by the spirit of a demon and tormented by him. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. 22ff. 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. Who do you care more about, people or pigs? Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. 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! December 2021 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. 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 . They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Bible scholar Gleason Archer (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties) argues similarly, It is entirely possible that the political control of this region was centered in Gadara as the capital city. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. Jesus has lead me away from my old life. Why would Jesus ask, "Who touched Me?" For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. 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? Like children convinced there are monsters under our beds, the unknown scares us. The passage in Daniel especially suggests specific geographical boundaries within which spirit beings must abide. More from Medium Jameson Steward in. But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. First of all, I believe Mark was attempting to warn his Gentile readers of the great danger of demonic influence and activity. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 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. May 2021 July 2016 If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. September 2022 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. Vote Up And, Gerasene was one. This was a power far beyond anything they had seen or even imagined. 15; Mark ix. Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? No! 22, xvii. and our 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. 13; Luke iv. When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. 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. 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. 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. How to prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? 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) He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. Only 30 of 175 dioceses ordained an average number of priests at or above replacement level over the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to the report. to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. So he got into a boat and returned. Such was the case with this man (cf. The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. Why is that. People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. 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). Now' as to the pigs (an unclean animal, so you know Jesus wasnt in Israel! By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. I asked why people are afraid of commitment and relationships and some said they are afraid because they fear being hurt again. It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. These men were a danger to themselves and others. You are welcome here. 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. (6) Tendency towards self-destruction. May 2017 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. 16, x. Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? (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. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). What would happen to them? This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. December 2017 Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. In contrast, the people of Gerasene are asking him to leave their place. This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. Verse 1. The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). Cookie Notice The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? We read at Mk 5:14-17 (NRSVCE), the immediate after-effects of the driving out of evil spirits by Jesus at Gerasene by allowing them to enter pigs: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? 122 Quoted by Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to Saint Luke, (Edinburg: T. and T. Clark, 5th ed., 1969): p. 228. A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? August 2016 August 2017 In other words, Jesus had caused a loss to them of 2,000 swine already; what else would His presence cost? They were content where they were. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. 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. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. Early Christians like St. Polycarp clearly held the Catholic view on salvation. In all three instances the word is chra (Strongs word #5561). Non-Christians can often experience this fear of Jesus as well. First of all, the EPA would have been investigating the pollution of Lake Galilee with decaying pigs. 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. 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 also maintains a popular Facebook page. So who was afraid? Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. The pigs had been driven mad and rushed down a steep slope plunging into the lake and drowning. 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. To date they have failed to respond in any way. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. Five squad cars converged on it. Crazy question or.? . 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. 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. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 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. The region and polygon don't match. 114 We are indebted to Edersheim, who reminds us that the expression demon possession never occurs in the New Testament: The term demoniacal possession occurs not in the New Testament. The region was known also as the Decopolis because ten Greek cities were located in the region. 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . The demoniacs were mere maniacs, whom Jesus cured by humouring their fancies; and His giving leave to imaginary demons to enter into the swine, produced the story of the disaster to the herd.All these explanations assume that the Gospel narratives are wholly or in part unhistorical. Plummer, Luke, p. 228.