Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? Note: 'had the legion', i.e., the many unclean spirits inhabiting him. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. How to show that an expression of a finite type must be one of the finitely many possible values? Thus, it is not always used of one specific country (nation), but rather, usually to regions or areas of either small (Bethlehem) or large (Judaea and Samaria) size, including regions surrounding large cities. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. 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 . Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. This would also give time afterwards for the dispersion, not only into the city, but into the country of them who had fed the swine. 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. There is no conflict, however, for Mark and Luke have apparently focused their attention on the most striking of the two. Holiness hurts! Nevertheless, for consideration. At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. She is a graduate of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University and Chicago Theological Seminary. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? 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. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! (it should be added that Plummer himelf does not hold to any of these views.). 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. Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. October 2020 Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? Lets learn why. Like the Samaritans who followed the woman at the well to see this One who had told her all she had done, so these residents came to see for themselves what had happened. His animal-like shrieks must have sent chills up the spines of any who were nearby. Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. Into the country of the Gadarenes, or rather, Gera-senes, which is now generally admitted to be the true reading, from Gerasa, Gersa, or Kersa.There was another Gerasa, situated at some distance from the sea, on the borders of Arabia Petraea. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. He obviously attracted crowds. 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 . The district of the Gerasenes probably included that of the Gadarenes; so that the demoniac of Gergesa belonged to the country of the Gadarenes and also to that of the Gerasenes, as the same person may, with equal truth, be said to live in the city or the state, or in the United States. In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? Another reason could be as Dr. R.C. But let us return to the gist of the matter: if Christ showed them His Divinity through the reason given above, is it easy to be in the presence of God? Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. The city of Gadara and its surrounding area are referred to as the Gadarenes. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. May the Spirit of God be so evident in us that men may see God in our lives. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. In Luke 2:8 it is applied to the city of Bethlehem; in Acts 18:23 to Galatia and Phrygia. (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. He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. In the form of tongues as of fire, the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. (CCC 696). April 2020 Jewish theology, at least on this point, seems consistent with biblical revelation. . 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. 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. We should know from other Scriptures that our present spiritual experience is one of spiritual warfare. Jesus had actually helped them. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. 123 1. and thank you for your contribution. August 2015 (1) Severe personality change. 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. 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. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. Demons are highly organized (cf. But for most of us, the world and the flesh are all that are necessary to cause us to stumble. xvi. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. What did Jesus do? For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. Once naked, he is now clothed. Jesus asked some crazy questions like "Why are you afraid?" 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. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. Unfortunately, Christians [or those using the name] can be harsh, condemning and critical driving people further into sin and away from God. The Lord, in an act of great mercy, freed the Gadarenes' man by casting the demons out of him and allowing them to enter a nearby herd of pigs. They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. June 2021 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. They had been unable to control these two men [Luke only mentions one man, but Matthew tells us there were two]. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. They are unclean spirits, (vss. 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. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? 15; Mark ix. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. verse 5). So who was afraid? That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. 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. How many demons possessed the man in Mark 5:6? A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. July 2018 When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. How do I connect these two faces together? Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. and 1 Kings xxii. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). 0 Responses March 2015 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. Anonymous, October 25 2014 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. Luke seems to base this fear solely upon what happened to the demoniac, not on the loss of their pigs. The people who witnessed this are . Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. 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. It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. Is it a bug? The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. 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?" . He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. July 2021 What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. Acts 5:1-6). Catholic Church. or school. 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. 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 2018 How much more sinful than Peter were the Geraseneans, who because of love of money did not shun even to engage in a non-Jew business of herding swine; how much more unbearable and dreadful must have been for them the Lords presence! Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. Why did Jesus allow the legion of demons to stay in the area when they begged him? . The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. 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 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. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Some today have given demons far more than their due by blaming demons for every malady of mankind. The region and polygon don't match. December 2020 I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. Renew or manage your subscription here. 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. COMMENTARY: Atheism is generally the expression of a moral attitude more than a real intellectual conviction based on evidence thought through. July 2022 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. 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. and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. 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. 4. The best known Gerasa was a Greek city nearly forty miles southeast of the lake (modern village of Khersa, on the east shore of the lake. Many times people - Non-Christians and Christians - push Jesus away because they do not want to change. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization January 2017 Will they be rejected? How Satan blinds our minds! 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. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. September 2018 Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. The region was known also as the Decopolis because ten Greek cities were located in the region. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 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. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . As has been said before, look for Satans man behind the pulpit. 40, vii. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. 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. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. rev2023.3.3.43278. 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) When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). I will not ask him to leave. 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. May 2017 Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. The religious rulers hated Jesus for exposing their hypocrisy and feared the consequences His actions might have with Rome, but they were not afraid of Jesus as a Person. Verse 1. It is even possible that his request was to become one of our Lords disciples.125. 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! Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. Now' as to the pigs (an unclean animal, so you know Jesus wasnt in Israel! And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 16ff., xix. 18). Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). 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