Jewish theology, at least on this point, seems consistent with biblical revelation. 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. The miracle referred to took place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa, the modern Kersa, close by the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and hence in the country of Gergesenes. Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. Train crash in Greece: 43 dead, stationmaster arrested. Live updates. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. April 2020 - 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. 10). For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. According to another theory, the Chapati movement of 1857 was an attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak in central India. 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. Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah. January 2016 This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known.. But, Im telling you. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. 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). October 2017 Although the Gospels give us little information as to how individuals become targets of Satanic control, I would suggest for your consideration that they sometimes do so by leaving themselves open to Satanic influence. 110 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3. Here is where Satan can use a man to influence scores of people, blinding minds and hearts to the truths of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). 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]. Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. Renew or manage your subscription here. But from all of the Gospel accounts, I get the distinct impression that this mans eyes were riveted on Jesus. 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.. 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. Wasn't the answer obvious? Demonic influence further destroys mans reflection of God as originally designed.128 Demons have great spiritual insight and reluctantly submit to Jesus as Lord of all. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. 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. Luke 8 March 2020 "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. February 2016 The exercising of authority over demons, in the land under another god, was a message. In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. We're no longer publishing the comic strip 'Dilbert.' Here's why No! Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. September 2021 Your comment will be posted after it is approved. November 2016 He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. As has been said before, look for Satans man behind the pulpit. 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. September 2018 These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. and our If they dare to open up their lives to Jesus what will happen? No! Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? (1) Severe personality change. (3) Spiritual insight. The account occurs in all three Synoptic gospels; in Mark (the shortest gospel) the story is in the longest and most detailed version; Matthew 8.28-34 is the shortest, Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. March 2022 April 2022 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? July 2017 With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved. 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. So who was afraid? The man looked out on the Tiberius. Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. And the people went out to see what happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. Why are you Afraid? | Mark 4:35 - 5:20 | RayStedman.org No matter where you are on life's journey. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. It should also be observed that nowhere in the Old Testament (except in I Sam. His greatest impact would be on those who knew his former state. Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? Catholic Church. This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. The Death Of Relationships In Nairobi - YAZA Kenya September 2022 Vote Up What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? The region and polygon don't match. 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. October 2018 Why as the question? March 2017 The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. April 2018 4, p. 180. The region was not poor or economically depressed. to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. But the distance is so short that, even making allowance for the delay by the tempest, the passage could scarcely have occupied the whole night. January 2022 COMMENTARY: Atheism is generally the expression of a moral attitude more than a real intellectual conviction based on evidence thought through. Jesus asked some pretty crazy questions like What Things Happened? 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! 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. Who Were The Gerasenes In The Bible? - Mastery Wiki September 2015 Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. Significantly, the demons are called unclean spirits (verse 2,9). The spread of cholera was linked to the movements of . Luke 8:26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. November 2021 Slain Los Angeles auxiliary bishop was remembered at the Mass of Christian burial as friend of Jesus Christ and of Mary, our Blessed Mother.. Treasury of Scripture. 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. Acts 5:1-6). Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. Fear that you might do something that would embarrass you? Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. This request was granted and the entire herd rushed headlong to their own destruction. xii. 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 . 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. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. April 2015 Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. 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. And, Gerasene was one. 2). 13; Luke iv. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. January 2021 What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs In Gerasenes You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. But then also Christ will triumph, and finally put an end to the evil one and all his powers of darkness (Rev. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate). 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! Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. 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. 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? The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. To date they have failed to respond in any way. First of all, I believe Mark was attempting to warn his Gentile readers of the great danger of demonic influence and activity. 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. . Definition of Gadarenes (Gergesenes) in the Bible - Bible Study 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 were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. And they were afraid. 184-185. The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. 61-62. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. 14. 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. For those near by the local name would be used; but in writing to a distant people, as the Greeks and Romans, the more comprehensive and general name would be given.. Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? 13ff.). Mark 3:14). Gerasa, Gadara, Gergesa - from where did the pigs stampede? 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. I asked why people are afraid of commitment and relationships and some said they are afraid because they fear being hurt again. 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. This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. 122 Quoted by Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to Saint Luke, (Edinburg: T. and T. Clark, 5th ed., 1969): p. 228. The occult and every front for demonic influence and activity should be avoided like the plague. Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . And, lastly, this would allow sufficient time for those miracles which took place on that second day in Capernaum after His return thither. Five squad cars converged on it. More from Medium Jameson Steward in. Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). As an alternative to confinement, the demons posed the option of being permitted to enter the pigs, some 2,000 in number, feeding nearby. 16, x. 2,8) who can possess men and animals. (4) Super-human strength. But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. Jesus is conscious that He now breaks the power of the devil and his angels because He is the One in whom the dominion of God is present on behalf of humanity. W. Foerster, as quoted by Lane, Mark, fn. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. The reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. If anything, that would have made them angry. The confrontation between the powers of heaven and hell are nowhere seen in better perspective than in Marks account of the encounter of the Gerasene demoniac with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . 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. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? 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! Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. You are welcome here. It is even possible that his request was to become one of our Lords disciples.125. 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. 4. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). 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. The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Gergesa, also Gergasa ( in Byzantine greek) or the Country of the Gergesenes, is a place on the eastern ( Golan Heights) side of the Sea of Galilee located at some distance to the ancient Decapolis cities of Gadara and Gerasa. Why did the demons ask to be cast into the herd of pigs, and why did the pigs then run into the water to be drowned? They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? So, they asked Him to leave. 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. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. He shivered at the disturbing memory. Author of The Gnostic Notebook series, stand-up comedian, and Gnostic. 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). Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 9. 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. 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. Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes.