why were the gerasenes afraid

37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear (Luke 8:35-37). Although Gadarenes and Gergesenes are derived from a different Greek word, they are essentially referring to the same area. But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. 110 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3. He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. 18). To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. April 2022 Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. 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. 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. 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. So he got into the boat and left. Then the SPCA would have been up in arms over such cruelty to animals. I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. And Jesus, being a Gentleman, was not about to force Himself on them. 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. 2ff., xvv. Lukes reading Gergesenes may represent even more accurately the ancient name of this place, as Origen knew of a Gergesa on the lake of Galilee. The destructive desires of the demons were dramatically carried out in the drowning of the swine. Far from this, He had stormed the gates of Hell and prevailed. The region was known also as the Decopolis because ten Greek cities were located in the region. To understand this event, you need consider the incident at Babel, and Deuteronomy. Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. 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. "The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. (2) Pork was a food forbidden to Jews, and as such, those who raised these pigs may have done so knowingly in violation of divine injunction. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. rev2023.3.3.43278. January 2021 Jude 6), no longer to afflict men or resist God. July 2021 His website/blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, has been online since March 1997. Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? Then people came to see what it was that had happened. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. No matter what men attempted to bind him with, he broke loose. More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. More from Medium Jameson Steward in. Whereas he had been a slave, he was now delivered from demon possession. 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 became as afraid of Jesus as the demons were. No! They all say country of (in the sense of region, not nation). So who was afraid? The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. The people were afraid when they saw the possessed man healed. Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. 13; Luke iv. We dismiss it the more readily, that, in our view, it conveys a wrong impression. April 2016 By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. Many times people - Non-Christians and Christians - push Jesus away because they do not want to change. 2 Now a centurion had a servant 1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 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). 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. Another reason they may have been afraid of Jesus was the realization that if they accepted Him, it would mean a radical change of lifestyle. One is that he was a fascinating man. As an alternative to confinement, the demons posed the option of being permitted to enter the pigs, some 2,000 in number, feeding nearby. The spectrum ranges from those who seem to control the demonic powers to those who are utterly controlled by them. They were willing to post guards and chain and shackle their neighbor to keep him from hurting someone. The reference could hardly be to the better known Gerasa (Jerash) between thirty and forty miles southeast from the lake. ESV - When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. 118 H. 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. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). 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. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). But about a mile further south there is a fairly steep slope within forty yards from the shore, and about two miles from there cavern tombs are found which appear to have been used for dwellings. William L. Lane, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), p.181. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? They are happy in their sin and the consequences seem far away. 8; Mark vi. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 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! If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. 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. Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. 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. It didnt take long for the word to spread quickly. The entrance of the term into colloquial speech indicates that the Roman occupation was a heavy burden. At their request, He left. 10). 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. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. So he got into a boat and returned. At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. Why is this even an issue, I wonder? First of all, the EPA would have been investigating the pollution of Lake Galilee with decaying pigs. . Bible scholar Gleason Archer (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties) argues similarly, It is entirely possible that the political control of this region was centered in Gadara as the capital city. 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). Holiness hurts! Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. 5. 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. Oh Hye-son recently published a Korean-language memoir on how she and her husband Thae Yong-ho, then deputy ambassador at North Korea's London embassy, defected in 2016. Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. They had dealt with Legion (I suspect) by forcing him from their presence. 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. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or 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. And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another . They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. It might be better to hide behind masks than risk being hurt again After all, if God rejects youwhere else can you go? The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. 9. No! 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]. Others cited unfaithfulness, lack of seriousness, and the lack of confidence to sustain a relationship. 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. of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were So he got into the boat and left. 4. 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! So much pain, so much sin. 16, x. According to another theory, the Chapati movement of 1857 was an attempt to prevent a cholera outbreak in central India. Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. xiii. As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. January 2017 Early Christians like St. Polycarp clearly held the Catholic view on salvation. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. No matter where you are on life's journey. (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. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. 115 While Mark and Luke describe only one demoniac, Matthew informs us that there were two. Why did Jesus allow the legion of demons to stay in the area when they begged him? His greatest impact would be on those who knew his former state. March 2018 13ff.). verse 5). For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 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). They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. If anything, that would have made them angry. Clarify 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. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. (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. 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.. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . Significantly, the demons are called unclean spirits (verse 2,9). Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. October 2022 On the other hand, Gadara is only six miles from the southern tip of the lake and could easily have given its name to the district. 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. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. December 2022 What would happen to them? In the third chapter of Marks Gospel, our Lords miraculous works were attributed by His opponents to the power of Satan (verse 22). The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. . Non-Christians can often experience this fear of Jesus as well. They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. . When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. Five squad cars converged on it. COMMENTARY: Atheism is generally the expression of a moral attitude more than a real intellectual conviction based on evidence thought through. 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. For those who are shaken like leaves in the wind at the mention of demons, let us remember from this story that demons cannot even possess pigs without prior permission from our Lord. and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Lets learn why. Evil is self-defeating in the end. A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. October 2021 The passage in Daniel especially suggests specific geographical boundaries within which spirit beings must abide. Anonymous, October 25 2014 We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? Jesus had actually helped them. 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. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 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. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. March 2015 Note that the texts dont say Gerasa or Gadara, so they arent necessarily referring just to one of the cities. Why is that. 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! 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. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. But then also Christ will triumph, and finally put an end to the evil one and all his powers of darkness (Rev. Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? (1) Severe personality change. 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. And, lastly, this would allow sufficient time for those miracles which took place on that second day in Capernaum after His return thither. I am wondering if the demoniac was pagan or an Israelite. If we put ourselves in their place, and use empathy to feel how we might have reacted if we were confronted with the loss of our next year's source of feeding our families, it will be easier to understand that they were afraid to suffer any other loss that might result if Jesus stayed in their area. Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. May 2022 Matthew 12:43-45). This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. 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. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. 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. He was a totally safe Person. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. In this context, however, he insists that legion has nothing of its usual Roman military overtones, but is the designation of numerous powers which oppose themselves to Jesus as the embodiment of the power of God. Lane, Mark, fn. May 2015 These, however, are not the problem raised by Bible students. November 2021 March 2020 Jesus asked a sick man if he wanted to get well. August 2021 Gadara, though not directly named in Scripture, was part of the Decapolis. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. April 2018 The demons freak out that Jesus is there because it's not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. 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. 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. 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). Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) I used to want the longest life, perfect health and happiness, but really it is that feeling that I am so glad that this isnt all there is and that we have heaven to wait for, and that well be with Jesus, and there will be no more tears Amber VanVickle (1982-2023), The headquarters of the charity, which serves as a consecrated family to 46 disabled children, were badly damaged in major flooding near Rio de Janeiro last year. Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. So who was afraid? Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. February 2018 She is a graduate of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University and Chicago Theological Seminary. The region was not poor or economically depressed. Once naked, he is now clothed. 22ff. Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. Today, it is identified with El-Koursi or Kursi. The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 17, pp. 606-607. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! March 2021 (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. 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. The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. Vote Up June 2016 Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. One is to disbelieve in their existence. 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. Here is one of the few times that a miracle drove people away, rather than to draw them to Jesus. And when the man spoke to Jesus, it looks like the demons inside the man were the ones doing the speaking. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. They were content where they were. They had heard what had happened to the pigs and knew the Jews considered Gentiles unclean, too. (London: InterVarsity Fellowship, 1950), fn. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? iv. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. 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. It hit them hard in the pocketbook. July 2022 The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. 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.. If he was a pagan, why did Jesus cast out his demons? Jesus never interacted with people as they were, but as He knew they were created to be. And, Gerasene was one. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. She and her wife moved to Maine from Illinois. 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. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? Now' as to the pigs (an unclean animal, so you know Jesus wasnt in Israel! 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. So, they asked Him to leave. Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? If they dare to open up their lives to Jesus what will happen? 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. Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. 14ff. 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. 7. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. They look forward to their future with great dread. 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. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? 22, xvii. The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. 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).

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