Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. 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. I asked why people are afraid of commitment and relationships and some said they are afraid because they fear being hurt again. Although his symptoms would have appeared to be those of an insane man,113 the Gospel writers inform us that he was demon-possessed.114. Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. First let us see what the Sacred Texts says: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. That would be a strong message, by allowing them to be possessed and then drowned. Romans 9:19-23). Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. 40, vii. Ouija boards are found in many American homes. Finally, there is in demon possession a counterpart to the filling (or control) of the Holy Spirit. They were content where they were. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? 2. Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. 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. and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. The first two are in the Authorized Version. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. Asked October 24 2014 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). Renew or manage your subscription here. (3) Spiritual insight. 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? Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? 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. It was like being attacked by two Hulks. They probably thought of quickly getting aboard ship and pushing off. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. 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. They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. 3 When the centurion 2 heard about Jesus, c he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his . As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. vi. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. 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 Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. Jesus asked some pretty crazy questions like What Things Happened? Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. It was opposite Galilee. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. The entrance of the term into colloquial speech indicates that the Roman occupation was a heavy burden. 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. December 2021 The pig tenders reported it far and wide, in city and country (verse 14). What did Jesus do? Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. 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. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. 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. How to show that an expression of a finite type must be one of the finitely many possible values? . 14. September 2018 13ff.). What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? ii. Hence it would be called the land of the Gadarenes.. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? 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. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. 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. The whole story is a myth. So he got into a boat and returned. To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. xiii. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. When Jesus asked the demoniac his name, it was not without significance for He was, I believe, asking the demons to reveal their identity. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. At the side of Kersa the shore is level, and there are no tombs. Having been properly warned of the demonic underworld, let us not fall into the opposite error of absolute paranoia. The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. Privacy Policy. 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. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. As He had landed with His disciples He had been confronted with a demon-possessed man - a man that no one had been able to control. It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. xvii. No! 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. April 2016 Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. In the third chapter of Marks Gospel, our Lords miraculous works were attributed by His opponents to the power of Satan (verse 22). 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. Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. and our They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. Rev. How many demons possessed the man in Mark 5:6? 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. The city of Gadara and its surrounding area are referred to as the Gadarenes. To date they have failed to respond in any way. 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. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Gergesenes is also in some manuscripts (Khersa or Gersa was a town actually on the shore of the sea). 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. His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. Life with him would be heaven on earth. The best human analogy might be in the area of drug abuse. You are welcome here. 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. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! You can like Jesus for two different reasons. Acts 5:1-6). June 2015 Sometime after the Lord Jesus miraculously calmed the storm, the ship landed, perhaps late in the evening,111 on the other side of the lake in the country of the Gerasenes.112 If, indeed, it was late at night, the scene must have been an eerie one, with the nerves of the disciples already worn thin by the terrifying experience of the storm. 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. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. July 2016 May 2016 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. No matter who you are. seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Fear that you would not be in control? 17, pp. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. This was a federation of ten cities (deka = ten, polis = city). 16, x. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. 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. 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. Instead of opening themselves up to Jesus and receiving His love and forgiveness, they allowed fear to drive a wedge between them. 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! (2) Anti-social behavior. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. It is in no way certain, however, that the pig raisers were Jews. It is amazing to think that people could be fearful of Jesus. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. Matthew 12:43-45). May 2017 The demons in the man recognize Jesus and the man bows before him. Verse 1. Luke 8 Preisker, TWNT IV (1942), pp. EIN 27-4581132 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. April 2015 This name (Strong's #G3003) is a reference to a Roman military regiment that varied in soldier strength from 4,000 to 6,000. 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 only takes a minute to sign up. verse 5). Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. 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. September 2016 8ff.). 120 The request is in both cases the same; for, according to Jewish notions, certain countries being assigned to evil as well as to good spirits, whose limits they were unable to overpass, to be sent out of their own country, no other being open to them, implied being sent into the abyss, or bottomless pit, since that remains for them alone. Trench, Miracles , p. 101. October 2018 That is not the choice at all. He felt Jesus' reassuring hand on his shoulder. Our Lord responded sternly by calling this accusation blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and as such was the one unpardonable sin (verses 28-30). 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). In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. March 2022 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. Early Christians like St. Polycarp clearly held the Catholic view on salvation. December 2017 But the city of Gadara owned some territory round about Khersa, so that the district and the pigs could properly also be called Gadarene. F. F. Bruce, Are the New Testament Documents Reliable? 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. Events that are important to our Church Community, Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. 21,22). Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. February 2015 Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. Why do people like Jesus a lot? People who have no appr Fallen people reject God not because they do not know His power. Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56). 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?" .