You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. How ironic, as others have noted, that the tormentor pleads not to be tormented. They have three sons and a daughter (all homeschooled) and reside in southeast Michigan. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. . The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. No matter who you are. Jesus asked Mary why she was crying at the grave site. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. How Satan blinds our minds! Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. The US Congress is currently debating whether TikTok should be banned for everyone in the US, not just government officials. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). 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. 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! He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. December 2017 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. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. . The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. Why as the question? For these demons to be sent out of the country would have meant that they would then be confined along with other fallen angels (cf. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. 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. "And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a bo." January 2023 In any event, they were not Israelites, as indicated by the fact that a herd of swine was being kept nearby, which would have been forbidden by the Mosaic Law, since swine were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8). The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. But, Im telling you. in a crowd in a crowd where many people were bumping into Him? Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. 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). This is probably the Gerasa of Mark and Luke. 2). April 2017 The nearby townspeople, upon hearing of the great miracle (and not wanting to suffer further economic loss), begged Christ to leave the Gadarenes and never come back! 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 man looked out on the Tiberius. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 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. Although God's word does not name which cities were considered part of this region, Pliny's Natural History (c. 77 A.D.) lists these cities as Gerasa, Scythopolis, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia, Capitolias (Dion), Canatha, Raphana and Damascus. Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. 3 When the centurion 2 heard about Jesus, c he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his . October 2017 9. The Gerasene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20) | Bible.org monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. 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. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. He shivered at the disturbing memory. Mark 3:14). He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. PDF A Legion of Fears Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). He was also humorous in his answers. xiii. 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. 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. Instead of opening themselves up to Jesus and receiving His love and forgiveness, they allowed fear to drive a wedge between them. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. 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). Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? 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. F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. Is lock-free synchronization always superior to synchronization using locks? That is not the choice at all. Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. March 2018 According to another theory, the Chapati movement of 1857 was an attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak in central India. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. September 2015 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. Satan loves those Christians. Luke 8:26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 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. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? What scared them was a power so fierce it could free a man. In other words, Jesus had caused a loss to them of 2,000 swine already; what else would His presence cost? What was it that caused these people to react in such a way? Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. 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. I felt somewhat guilty, particularly fearing that I may have created an unintentional hardship for some classmate. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/gerasene-or-gadarene-swine, What Archaeology Tells Us About Joshuas Conquest, 50 Verses to Help You Prepare for Pentecost, St. Polycarp, Who Learned the Faith From an Apostle, Did Not Believe in Faith Alone, The Three Kinds of Atheists, and How to Respond to Them, We Know That Hes in Heaven: Thousands Gather for Funeral of Bishop David OConnell in Los Angeles, Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Paprocki Speak Out in Support of Traditional Latin Massgoers in Their Dioceses, Survey: Decline in Vocations to the Priesthood Is Worse Where Priests Serve Larger Flocks, God Really Intervened: How a Catholic Priest Escaped From His Kidnappers in Haiti, Amber and Dave VanVickle on Finding God in the Midst of Suffering. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). Thats just westernised interpretation which simply doesnt work when interpretating a Jewish book. It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. January 2016 The whole story is a myth. EIN 27-4581132 Renew or manage your subscription here. Anonymous, October 25 2014 It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. How to show that an expression of a finite type must be one of the finitely many possible values? As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. July 2018 Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, They were content where they were. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. 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. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. Gerasa, Gadara, Gergesa - from where did the pigs stampede? The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. No matter where you are on life's journey you are welcome here! 21,22). Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. Thus, all the circumstances lead us to regard the healing of the demonized at Gerasa as a night scene, immediately on Christs arrival from Capernaum, and after the calming of the storm at sea. Alford Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), I, pp. 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). In Jewish thinking, spirit beings were assigned to certain geographical territories.120. Although it is often claimed that Christians were persecuted for their refusal to worship the emperor, general dislike for Christians likely arose from their refusal to worship the gods or take part in sacrifice, which was expected of those living in the Roman Empire. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac - Wikipedia Those demons were terrified of Him! It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Matt. These men were a danger to themselves and others. It indicates full and permanent control. The Man Jesus Renamed | Reformed Theological Seminary August 2017 Privacy Policy. First of all the Scriptures do not say that the local Pagans were afraid of Jesus, but that they merely begged him to leave their neighbourhood. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus - Quora rev2023.3.3.43278. "The trains were . 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. What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. Nor was it the Jewish population of Galilee. 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. So he got into the boat and left. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. November 2021 April 2022 January 2017 He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. 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. First of all, the EPA would have been investigating the pollution of Lake Galilee with decaying pigs. And, Gerasene was one. He obviously attracted crowds. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC No matter who you are. (London: InterVarsity Fellowship, 1950), fn. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. ESV - Gergesa - Wikipedia Asked October 24 2014 The expression to be with Jesus is used particularly of His disciples (cf. 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. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because it's not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. (3) Spiritual insight. For the reason why this is so we refer the reader to the introduction preceding the exposition of verses 33-7. . Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. Finally, there is in demon possession a counterpart to the filling (or control) of the Holy Spirit. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. 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! Read the Scripture: Mark 4:35 - 5:20. to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! 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. July 2017 Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Many times people - Non-Christians and Christians - push Jesus away because they do not want to change. e.g., Matt. We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. 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. 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. 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). 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.
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why were the gerasenes afraid