why were the gerasenes afraid why were the gerasenes afraid

Then people came to see what it was that had happened. June 2022 They liked Him and wanted to be with Him. Commentator R. C. H. Lenski states: The distance of these cities from the lake is immaterial for the narrative since this deals with the region that is near the lake and not with the vicinity of either of the cities to the lake.. September 2022 to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! 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. February 2015 It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. ESV - 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. Sermon for July 26, 2020: Why Were They So Afraid: Mark 5:1-20. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus (Luke 8:26-39, NIV) 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. There is no conflict, however, for Mark and Luke have apparently focused their attention on the most striking of the two. And when the man spoke to Jesus, it looks like the demons inside the man were the ones doing the speaking. Understand the meaning of Luke 8:37 using all available Bible versions and commentary. In recent years the matter has been getting uncomfortably close to home. In all three instances the word is chra (Strongs word #5561). But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. vi. Jesus had simply sailed across the Lake of Galilee to the region of the Gerasenes. 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. 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 reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1991. Such was the case with this man (cf. xvii. You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. Only 30 of 175 dioceses ordained an average number of priests at or above replacement level over the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to the report. So much pain, so much sin. On the other hand, the scene gains in grandeurhas, so to speak, a fitting backgroundif we suppose the Saviour and His disciples to have landed on the other side late in the evening, when perhaps the silvery moon was shedding her pale light on the weird scene, and laying her halo around the shadows cast upon the sea by the steep cliff down which the herd of swine hurried and fell. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. 16ff., xix. They all say country of (in the sense of region, not nation). When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). February 2017 I asked why people are afraid of commitment and relationships and some said they are afraid because they fear being hurt again. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. He felt Jesus' reassuring hand on his shoulder. Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. 40, vii. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. The occult and every front for demonic influence and activity should be avoided like the plague. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. The center of personality, the volitional and active ego, is impaired by alien powers which seek to ruin the man and sometimes drive him to self-destruction (Mk. April 2022 Although it is likely that the larger towns of Galilee were predominantly Gentile, as was the Decapolis, the first-century civilian diet did not . Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. The swine then immediately killed themselves by rushing off a cliff. 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?" . Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Jesus asked Mary why she was crying at the grave site. 123 1. 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. Christians are to be the answer, but often they are part of the problem. Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . 111 Edersheim maintains that it must have been late the same night of the storm: Most writers have, indeed, suggested, that the healing of the demonized on the other side took place at early dawn of the day following the storm on the lake. They ask Him if they can enter some nearby pigs, and He lets them. 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. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 15; Mark ix. The whole story is a myth. 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. The region is located east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. 05 /5 Another theory. In Mark 1:5 it is used of the land of Judaea (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to land of the Jews (KJV). I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. As Jesus began to get back into the boat, the delivered demoniac pleaded with Him that he might accompany Him. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. June 2020 Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? May the Spirit of God be so evident in us that men may see God in our lives. Matthew 12:43-45). 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. This is when the storm arose which threatened to destroy the ship (Mark 4:35-41). Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. 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). The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Jesus asked some crazy questions like "Why are you afraid?" Demon-possession is, therefore, not merely a mental state in which someone suffers from a delusion or is subjected to some subjective disturbance of the world of ideas. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). November 2022 Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. April 2021 I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. And, lastly, this would allow sufficient time for those miracles which took place on that second day in Capernaum after His return thither. A crowd had come to see what had happened for themselves. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. I felt somewhat guilty, particularly fearing that I may have created an unintentional hardship for some classmate. or by some form of self-emptying (such as various forms of eastern meditation) in my opinion, they are in a precarious position. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Vote Up The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. September 2020 Read the Scripture: Mark 4:35 - 5:20. February 2022 In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. It is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. (4) Super-human strength. Whenever a man, woman, or child surrenders control of himself either to fleshly desires (anger, lust, passion, etc.) This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. In other words, even though he set the bar extremely high, he seemed to be a fascinating man. 17, pp. If they dare to open up their lives to Jesus what will happen? They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, b he entered Capernaum. The before and after descriptions of the demoniac reveal that he was a totally different person under demonic influence. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. This story is a little bit of an Easter story. He obviously attracted crowds. 18). October 2021 2 Now a centurion had a servant 1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. It was greatly influenced by Greek culture.126. They would have to trust Jesus. September 2018 Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus? . 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. Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. Pigs were specifically set aside as the animal used in sacrifices to their god. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? October 2022 Those demons were terrified of Him! A Jewish exorcist with such authority in the region, risked to damage the beliefs and reputation of the local pagan inhabitants. Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. July 2015 Will they be rejected? 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. We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. If he was a pagan, why did Jesus cast out his demons? Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. Unfortunately, Christians [or those using the name] can be harsh, condemning and critical driving people further into sin and away from God. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. Jewish theology, at least on this point, seems consistent with biblical revelation. 14). February 2016 This was a federation of ten cities (deka = ten, polis = city). Renew or manage your subscription here. They were willing to post guards and chain and shackle their neighbor to keep him from hurting someone. In this account we, by inference, learn much about the demonic spirits. So who was afraid? What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? There probably were not many who had been told yet of the Messiah, and so were not yet believers. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. January 2018 July 2020 This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. Like children convinced there are monsters under our beds, the unknown scares us. "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. 22ff. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. 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. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). If an Israelite, why was he in Gerasene in the first place and why was he living so near a large herd of swine? Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Father Macaire, 33, who was ordained fewer than two years ago, was kidnapped the morning of Feb. 7 when he was on his way to his missionary community in Kazal, about 20 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 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. 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. Other demoniacs described in Scripture were bent on self-destruction as well (cf. He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. 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. Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. 7. December 2021 A friend of mine told me later that two students were attempting to cast a demon out of a fellow. 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. Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? January 2021 Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. And the people there were scared, they recognised this, but more, they realised the significance of this. 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. 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). Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? The capital of the region was Gerasa, and the largest city in the region was Gadera. Bill Maher says he's scared of former President Trump "on a very personal level" and "what he would do" to the comedian if he were to win the 2024 White House race. It was opposite Galilee. You can like Jesus for two different reasons. 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! of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were So he got into the boat and left. Jesus had been performing miracles in Gods nation - Israel. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. The Gadarenes was the place where Jesus confronted a man whose possession by demons gave him a level of superhuman strength like Samson (Mark 5:3 - 5, Luke 8:27). Just imagine, a man in a cinema, having bought popcorn and cola and watching an action movie, with a lot of violence and harsh language in it, and then he sees suddenly that a saintly bishop is sitting just next to his seat, not watching the movie, but reading silently psalms with a countenance radiating a deep contemplation; will not the first man be upset and lose all pleasure of watching the movie? You might be thinking back to Easter and not recall very many hogs showing up except for at Easter supper. (3) Spiritual insight. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. Gadara is about six miles from the sea. No matter who you are. September 2021 But, Im telling you. Why is this even an issue, I wonder? 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. They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. 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. Catholic Church. The drowning of the swine was an accident, possibly simultaneous with the healing, and report mixed up the two incidents. January 2017 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. Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. 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. February 2018 Why would God tell King David to take a census of the people in verses one through nine, and then cast judgment on him because he did what he told him to do? Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. Nor was it the Jewish population of Galilee. I will not ask him to leave. 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. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. 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. "Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear." (Luke 8:37a) Fear plagues us. The time of this event was before Jesus' crucifixion, and before the gentiles were grafted in to the promise (Acts 10). The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 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. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 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. Thus an economic lose of revenue was involved. 3); they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day (Jude 6); and what the unclean spirits deprecate here, is the bringing in, by anticipation, of that final doom. R. C. Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1949), p. 100. Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. The people were more terrified of Jesus and His authority than they were of this crazed and demonized man living among the tombs. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p. 174. In contrast, the people of Gerasene are asking him to leave their place. Instantly he recognized the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God (verse 7).116 There was a source of spiritual insight beyond human capabilities here. September 2016 They likely were Gentiles and had been under the influence of the demonic principality of the region their whole life. But here we speak not about a bishop, but about Christ who made His Godhead revealed through devils beseeching Him not to cast them to hell but enter the swine. Have you even been in a service where the Spirit of God was moving and felt fear? 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. Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. Those possessed are depicted throughout as unfortunate sufferers who by no fault of their own are dominated by evil spirits and who, when the spirits are cast out by Jesus, accept their deliverance with joy and gratitude (Mark v. 18-20, Luke viii. One is to disbelieve in their existence. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. . November 2016 ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. I understand why," the HBO "Real Time" host told Jake Tapper on Tuesday as part . Although Gadarenes and Gergesenes are derived from a different Greek word, they are essentially referring to the same area. Jesus had just performed an incredible miracleand one they desperately needed, at that! EIN 27-4581132 No! He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. 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. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. Now' as to the pigs (an unclean animal, so you know Jesus wasnt in Israel! He was a totally safe Person. 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. 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. The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. As the world's top superpower, how unsure of itself can the US be to . Known as the Judas Iscariot of Gnosticism for revealing that which is not to be revealed. Another indication of demonic control is the fact that this man was continually doing harm to himself by gashing himself with stones (verse 5). When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons. 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. You are welcome here. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. Life with him would be heaven on earth. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? DEUT 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God. October 2015 There is the so-called demon of doubt, of anger, of overindulgence, of drunkenness, laziness and so on. At first we may deceive ourselves into thinking that we are controlling them, but the ultimate likelihood is that they will master us. Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. 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. 14ff. The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. Nevertheless, for consideration. There seems to be no excuse here for the charge of contradiction. 118 H. HELPING CHRISTIANS BUILD POSITIVE, GODLY FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NATIONS, Follow us on social media for daily Scripture comments and more at. And they were afraid. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known.. Paul says of the former life of the Christian, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 1:1-2). No one was strong enough to subdue him (verses 3,4). April 2015 Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. Putting all of these factors together the term demon-possessed inplies too much. iv. 3 When the centurion 2 heard about Jesus, c he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his . Lets learn why. It is not difficult to imagine what was going through the minds of the disciples as their ship landed and as these two demon possessed men rushed to them. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. Anonymous, October 25 2014 Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? December 2017 That would be a strong message, by allowing them to be possessed and then drowned. August 2018 The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. January 2022 December 2016 The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? And, Gerasene was one. How ironic, as others have noted, that the tormentor pleads not to be tormented. What purposes did Mark intend to achieve by the inclusion of this event? Crazy question or.? April 2018 The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. Just as demons desire to possess persons through whom they can exhibit their personalities, so the Spirit of God indwells man, imparting new life, and progressively gaining control so that the character of God is exhibited, but not in such a way as to hinder our individuality and identity.