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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. Cookie Notice Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). November 2015 You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. Until we decide on a new comic, you'll likely see a gray box where "Dilbert" had appeared. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). Jesus asked some pretty crazy questions like What Things Happened? (London: InterVarsity Fellowship, 1950), fn. September 2015 They were content where they were. First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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 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. A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. These men were a danger to themselves and others. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. July 2016 Acts 19:16). They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? 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. Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. This reveals to us that demons have an intuitive knowledge of their impending doom.117. 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. 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. (3) Our Lord was moved with compassion by the torment of Legion and the loss of these pigs should in no way dim our view of the deliverance of the demoniac. That is not the choice at all. 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. 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. June 2017 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. vi. 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. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. (5) Torment. Verse 1. Flavius Josephus and Steve Mason, Flavius Josephus: Life of Josephus (Boston; Leiden: Brill, 2003), 47. 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 any event, I love defending the Bible and Christianity. 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. 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. 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. It is very appropriate that these two incidents . It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. Finally, there is in demon possession a counterpart to the filling (or control) of the Holy Spirit. 13; Luke iv. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. Mark 9:17-29). We dismiss it the more readily, that, in our view, it conveys a wrong impression. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1991. 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! He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. 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. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. Why would Jesus ask, "Who touched Me?" At their request, He left. 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. Thats why also Peter having realized who Christ was, was dreaded and asked Him to leave him for he said to be a sinful man (Luke 5:8). Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. Nevertheless, for consideration. Jesus had actually helped them. The reference could hardly be to the better known Gerasa (Jerash) between thirty and forty miles southeast from the lake. 123 1. Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. 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. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. 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 . It was significant. Fear that you would not be in control? He obviously attracted crowds. 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. 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 . 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). in a crowd in a crowd where many people were bumping into Him? 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. 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. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. June 2015 They are unclean spirits, (vss. The region was not poor or economically depressed. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. Note that the texts dont say Gerasa or Gadara, so they arent necessarily referring just to one of the cities. Now' as to the pigs (an unclean animal, so you know Jesus wasnt in Israel! What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? 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, January 2015 However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. April 2015 Matthew 12:43-45). 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). Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! July 2020 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. Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. April 2016 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. October 2021 5. Is it a bug? 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. The whole story is a myth. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. 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. . August 2017 Ridiculous? 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. 8; Mark vi. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the 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. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. This supposition would be further confirmed, if the evening when Jesus embarked was what the Jews were wont to call the first evening, that is, the time when the sun was declining in the heaven, but before it had actually set, the latter time being the second evening. For it seems most unlikely that multitudes would have resorted to Jesus at Capernaum after the second evening, or that either the disciples or other boats would have put to sea after nightfall. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Although it is likely that the larger towns of Galilee were predominantly Gentile, as was the Decapolis, the first-century civilian diet did not . This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known.. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? Was it fear that a secret sin might be exposed? And they were afraid. The pigs had been driven mad and rushed down a steep slope plunging into the lake and drowning. Life with him would be heaven on earth. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? But as Gergesa was a small village, and little known, the evangelists, who wrote for more distant readers, spoke of the event as taking place in the country of the Gadarenes, so named from its largest city, Gadara; and this country included the country of the Gergesenes as a state includes a county. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. Hence it would be called the land of the Gadarenes.. xvi. So who was afraid? And he said to them, Where is your faith? Who was afraid of Jesus and why? One is to disbelieve in their existence. April 2021 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. It should also be observed that nowhere in the Old Testament (except in I Sam. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. 2ff., xvv. 124 Augustine: The devils were driven out and permitted to go into the swine; and Aquinas: But that the swine were driven into the sea was no work of the divine miracle, but was the work of the devils by divine permission. Quoted by Trench, Miracles, fn. This request was granted and the entire herd rushed headlong to their own destruction. July 2015 Events that are important to our Church Community, Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. 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. Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? August 2016 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . 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. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. Men in their unbelief suppose that the choice is either to be free (independent of God) or to be the slaves of Christ. Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. 61-62. Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. 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. October 2017 Lets face it, we all like to be in control. More from Medium Jameson Steward in. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 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. Wasn't the answer obvious? to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! It is in no way certain, however, that the pig raisers were Jews. 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! 8ff.). 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. This suggests that whoever was the customer for the swineherder in the "region of the Gerasenes", it was not the Roman army to any significant extent. Understand the meaning of Luke 8:37 using all available Bible versions and commentary. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Anonymous, October 25 2014 As these people began to piece together the previous events, not only of the destruction of the pigs, but also the deliverance of Legion, they began to sense that there was One far more awesome, much more to be feared, than Legion. rev2023.3.3.43278. 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. 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. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. In all three instances the word is chra (Strongs word #5561). The drowning of these pigs has caused a great deal of discussion amongst Bible students, for as a friend of mine once observed, Thats a lot of pork chops! Had our Lord achieved such a miracle today He would have been in deep trouble. Renew or manage your subscription here. 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. February 2022 Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. August 2021 He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. 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. Matt. Jesus asked some crazy questions like "Why are you afraid?" 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. 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. 16ff., xix. When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. The man looked out on the Tiberius. The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). There seems to be no excuse here for the charge of contradiction. or school. 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. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. The pig tenders reported it far and wide, in city and country (verse 14). The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. 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. 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. 22ff. What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? Dave Armstrong Dave Armstrong is a full-time Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981. The capital of the region was Gerasa, and the largest city in the region was Gadera. It would seem that these people had no Messianic expectations, and therefore wanted nothing to do with One Who had such awesome power, a power over which they had no control. Some today have given demons far more than their due by blaming demons for every malady of mankind. They were willing to post guards and chain and shackle their neighbor to keep him from hurting someone. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. 110 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. Clarify Acts 5:1-6). 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. Jesus has lead me away from my old life. Once naked, he is now clothed. Asked October 24 2014 Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. Catholic Church. 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. May 2016 These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. Some illicitly use drugs, supposing that they have them completely under their control. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. Instead of opening themselves up to Jesus and receiving His love and forgiveness, they allowed fear to drive a wedge between them. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. As I have been studying this account through the week, it has seemed to me a rather bizarre and remote situation, the liberation of this Gerasene demoniac. Let me say as graciously as I can, Satan does not need to work on us in those areas as we are doing very well without his exploitation. 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. In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. 7. This is probably the Gerasa of Mark and Luke. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. One is that he was a fascinating man. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Jesus was saying, (demonstrating) that He had all authority, in any land. Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). January 2016 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). Vote Up Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. . 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. It indicates full and permanent control. When the pigs were sent into the sea, the people of Gadara lost money. For some people, the cost is too high. It was opposite Galilee. 14. April 2018 Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. 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. Why is that. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 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. He was also humorous in his answers. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. June 2022 As Jesus began to get back into the boat, the delivered demoniac pleaded with Him that he might accompany Him. Matthew 8:28 - 29, 31, 34And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. March 2022 Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). 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. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. 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. How do I connect these two faces together?