From this point on, Jesus began to speak to the crowds in parables in order to veil or conceal the gospel from those who had blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Mark 4:lff). The second question is an ethical one: What right had the Lord to inflict this loss on the owners of the swine?121 Put even more crassly, Huxley censored this act with these words: the wanton destruction of other peoples property is a misdemeanour of evil example.122. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. 110 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3. 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. That would be a strong message, by allowing them to be possessed and then drowned. Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? September 2018 In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). These people did not want to change. 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? In this account we, by inference, learn much about the demonic spirits. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. First of all, I believe Mark was attempting to warn his Gentile readers of the great danger of demonic influence and activity. These men were a danger to themselves and others. This was a federation of ten cities (deka = ten, polis = city). Jesus was saying, (demonstrating) that He had all authority, in any land. This was a power far beyond anything they had seen or even imagined. This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. 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. 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. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. xvi. 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. xvii. Jesus asked some pretty crazy questions like What Things Happened? Instantly he recognized the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God (verse 7).116 There was a source of spiritual insight beyond human capabilities here. February 2021 The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). (6) Tendency towards self-destruction. Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 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. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. These people from the region of the Gerasenes had undoubtedly felt the anger or disgust of Jews for making a career out of such unclean animals, but Jesus had not criticized them for their profession. Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. Their first question is a rather pragmatic one, namely, How can demons possess animals? To this we must confess that we know too little to understand the mechanism of demon possession but the reality is very evident. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. 21,22). January 2022 What was it that caused these people to react in such a way? 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? Just imagine, a man in a cinema, having bought popcorn and cola and watching an action movie, with a lot of violence and harsh language in it, and then he sees suddenly that a saintly bishop is sitting just next to his seat, not watching the movie, but reading silently psalms with a countenance radiating a deep contemplation; will not the first man be upset and lose all pleasure of watching the movie? This is when the storm arose which threatened to destroy the ship (Mark 4:35-41). 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. art thou come hither to torment us before the time? The pig tenders reported it far and wide, in city and country (verse 14). 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. Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. They had been unable to control these two men [Luke only mentions one man, but Matthew tells us there were two]. November 2016 July 2015 Is it a bug? Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. 3. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . 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. Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. 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. They had heard what had happened to the pigs and knew the Jews considered Gentiles unclean, too. Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. Acts 5:1-6). No matter what men attempted to bind him with, he broke loose. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. 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. 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. 184-185. Brazilian Charity Caring for Children Who Survived Abortions Issues Urgent Appeal, Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die, The Meat of the Matter: St. Patricks Day and the Lenten Fast. There is, as we know, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. June 2021 In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. Matthew 12:43-45). They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperat July 2018 For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. He seemed to view Jesus approach as the launching of a direct attack on the demonic forces. No one was strong enough to subdue him (verses 3,4). Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. The occult and every front for demonic influence and activity should be avoided like the plague. Luke 8:26-39 Mark 5:1-20 ESV - 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. January 2017 Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. In all three instances the word is chra (Strongs word #5561). July 2021 October 2018 People who have no appr By His power, we, too, are able to overcome Satans treacheries. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. No! 123 1. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. January 2021 They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Asked October 24 2014 Anonymous, October 25 2014 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. Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Even as the purpose of Roman legions was to enforce the will of the emperor, the goal of the multiple evil spirits was to carry out the devil's will of bringing pain, destruction and chaos to humans! A Jewish exorcist with such authority in the region, risked to damage the beliefs and reputation of the local pagan inhabitants. When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? The Gadarenes was the place where Jesus confronted a man whose possession by demons gave him a level of superhuman strength like Samson (Mark 5:3 - 5, Luke 8:27). 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). 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. People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. (2) Anti-social behavior. I think the coup de grce is to look up the Greek word for country in these passages, to see what latitude of meaning it has. Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. 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? (5) Torment. April 2020 Then the SPCA would have been up in arms over such cruelty to animals. Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? 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. You might be thinking back to Easter and not recall very many hogs showing up except for at Easter supper. The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. 22, xvii. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. The lectionary reading for Trinity 1, Year C, is Luke's version of Jesus meeting and healing the demon-possessed man in the 'region of the Gerasenes' (Luke 8.26-39). But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. Ananias and Sapphira did so by allowing their greed to grip their hearts (cf. 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. The New Testament speaks of those who had a spirit, or a demon, or demons, or an unclean spirit, or the spirit of an unclean demon, but chiefly of persons who were demonised. Edersheim, Life and Times, I, p. 479. And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. May 2021 The Lord granted the only request of these residents, which was for Him to leave. That is not the choice at all. The capital of the region was Gerasa, and the largest city in the region was Gadera. 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. November 2022 His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. . The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese, Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it. Confusion, fear in moments after crash "There were many big pieces of steel," said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. October 2020 It was significant. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. That the unclean spirits were personal beings is evident from what is related about their leaving a possessed person, talking or crying out, possessing knowledge concerning Jesus, as well as other supernatural knowledgeshowing fear, and the like. 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. Will they be rejected? Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. January 2018 Wasn't the answer obvious? Those who have witnessed demon possession tell us that each demon has its own distinct personality and that the individual possessed begins to manifest the distinct personality of the demon by which he is possessed. 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). Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. Christians are to be a "safe" people - an expression of that love of God so people who do not know Him can be drawn to the Truth. 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]. Jesus asked some crazy questions like "Why are you afraid?" June 2022 But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the herd of pigs? 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. What did Jesus do? Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. (4) Super-human strength. Who do you care more about, people or pigs? Textual variations have compounded the problem. 117 so that, by their own confession, a time is coming when there shall be an entire victory of the kingdom of light over that of darkness (Rev. Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. July 2017 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. It indicates full and permanent control. Luke 8:37Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. Ouija boards are found in many American homes. 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. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because it's not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. Rev. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. 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. The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. 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) By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 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. Gerasenes could have had a sense of reference to the entire region (as well as to a city: just as New Yorker can refer to the state or city), and Gadarenes likely was a reference to the most prominent city of the region at the time. That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes. The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. 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. September 2022 Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. The lose of the pigs meant loose of partial income in the area. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. They are happy in their sin and the consequences seem far away. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. 2 Now a centurion had a servant 1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. June 2017 Why do people like Jesus a lot? And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. I will not look for a reason to return to it. There probably were not many who had been told yet of the Messiah, and so were not yet believers. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. Satan loves those Christians. 5. Luke 8 Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. The man looked out on the Tiberius. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 991. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. So who was afraid? 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. Pope Francis Inexhaustible Font of Words: 10 Gems From the Heart Over 10 Years, Pope Francis, Biden Commend Peacemaker Bishop OConnell as Memorial Services Begin. They would have to trust Jesus. The center of personality, the volitional and active ego, is impaired by alien powers which seek to ruin the man and sometimes drive him to self-destruction (Mk. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. March 2016 They became as afraid of Jesus as the demons were. Embedded into both stories are people who were afraid of Jesus. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). He felt Jesus' reassuring hand on his shoulder. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. 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. All of this sure seems perfectly consistent with calling the same area the country (chra) of either the Gerasenes or the Gadarenes, after the two major cities. 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. And they were afraid. Far from this, He had stormed the gates of Hell and prevailed. February 2017 December 2014 He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. 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. August 2015 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 . 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?" . 05 /5 Another theory. 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). (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. Cookie Notice Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . So much pain, so much sin. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. For example, He didnt condemn a prostitute for her actions, He saw a daughter of God who was valuable beyond measure and only needed genuine love and forgiveness. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. 5:5). October 2017 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. Evil is self-defeating in the end. With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. Romans 9:19-23). 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC No matter who you are. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. 17, pp. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Instead of opening themselves up to Jesus and receiving His love and forgiveness, they allowed fear to drive a wedge between them. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. 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 were the Romans afraid of the Christians? What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? 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. March 2020 rev2023.3.3.43278. August 2020 F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. 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 Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. or by some form of self-emptying (such as various forms of eastern meditation) in my opinion, they are in a precarious position. 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. September 2021 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. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? 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. How do I connect these two faces together? You can like Jesus for two different reasons. May 2015 Therefore, Jesus Christ for demons is God and thus even demons inadvertently reveal themselves as being better theologians than Arians and their modern day heirs - Jehovawitnesians and all different breeds of Unitarians - their name being legion! 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 . Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? If an Israelite, why was he in Gerasene in the first place and why was he living so near a large herd of swine? "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. December 2021 . But, Im telling you. How Can a Person Get Rid of Evil Spirits. Acts 16:16), while others were the virtual pawns of these spirits, losing their own identity and autonomy. Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? Non-Christians can often experience this fear of Jesus as well. Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or Unfortunately, Christians [or those using the name] can be harsh, condemning and critical driving people further into sin and away from God. and our Your comment will be posted after it is approved. In that case, of course, it would be in the early morning that the Gerasenes afterwards resorted to Jesus and that He again returned to Capernaum. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? May 2016 Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. 13ff.). If anything, that would have made them angry. January 2016 It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. Accordingly this was not merely an ordinary form of mental disease as some writers have alleged, but a special phenomenon which was particularly frequent during Jesus earthly sojourn and thus was directly connected with His coming to destroy the power of darkness.
