how many times did jesus go to gerasenes

114 We are indebted to Edersheim, who reminds us that the expression demon possession never occurs in the New Testament: The term demoniacal possession occurs not in the New Testament. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? I have never actually begged Jesus to go away and leave me alone. We are not by Matt Slick | Apr 6, 2023 | Bible Studies. Gerasa is mentioned next by Josephus in connection with the Jewish rebellion against the Romans in a.d. 70. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to depart from them; for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat, and returned (Luke 8:35-37). Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 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. No torment. The house that is left swept and clean is a likely target for Satanic influence (cf. It shows that the writers had not agreed to impose on the world; for if they had, they would have mentioned the same city; and it shows, also, they were familiar with the country. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. Peace, like the quiet sea. Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus? He himself earnestly desired to stay with Jesus, knowing that Jesus had saved him an otherwise completely hopeless and unremediable condition. Jesus wasn't anything like the demons. get to know the Bible better! The tomb-man had beaten off much larger men in his demonic rages. He seemed to view Jesus approach as the launching of a direct attack on the demonic forces. Some have suggested that the words Gergesenes and Gerasenes are not words referring to people from a city other than Gadara, but merely different variations of the word Gadarenes (Youngblood, p. 468; McGarvey, p. 344). The pagan religions continued among the Gentile population as is evidenced by the ruins of the temple of Artemis. 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. 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. McClintock, John and James Strong (1969 reprint), Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker). 14. It was a hard call to return to the place where he had known demons, chains, tombs, self-mutilation, public humiliation, abuse, loneliness, and suicidal torment. Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man 115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. This account is recorded in all three of the synoptic gospel accounts, but with two different renderings of the name of the place where the miracles occurred. Luke seems to base this fear solely upon what happened to the demoniac, not on the loss of their pigs. It is clear that Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not contradict each otherin fact, they complemented each other. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. Did the drapes in old theatres actually say "ASBESTOS" on them? Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. If an Israelite, why was he in Gerasene in the first place and why was he living so near a large herd of swine? The truth is that I am both drawn to you because of this and also a bit scared. What does it mean that the name of the demon was Legion? He was sitting at Jesus feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane (8:35), thus serving as a vivid demonstration of the saving, healing power of Jesus. 22ff. Spam, July 19 2021 6:1-13. In the 2nd cent. The spectrum ranges from those who seem to control the demonic powers to those who are utterly controlled by them. It was besieged by Baldwin II, in 1121 A.D. I realize that opening myself fully to you threatens my comfortable status quo. 3. The confrontation of Jesus and the Gerasene demoniac made it clear that Jesus was no servant of Satan. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Reland (Pal, II, 806) notes certain extant coins of Gerasa, from which it is clear that in the 2nd century it was a center of the worship of Artemis. (3) Spiritual insight. Does a password policy with a restriction of repeated characters increase security? One man: Mark 5:1-2, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the . 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. v. 37) describe Jesus healing of the demoniac Legion and the drowning of the swine in the Sea of Galilee (cf. 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. 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. 17, pp. 21,22). Did they cease to exist? There is no contradiction, therefore, in the evangelists. For many Christians today, the horrifying experience of Legion should be sufficient testimony of the reality of the Satanic underworld. Matthew recorded that Jesus commanded demons to come out of two men (8:29). With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. 9:10-17. 18). He actually wanted to keep his clothes on. At times, my honest prayer might be: Lord, yes, do in me the things I want you to do. Modern Jerash lies on both banks of Wady Jerash, about 6 miles from its confluence with Wady ez-Zerqa (the Jabbok). The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. Vote Up vi. He said he had come to the house of Israel, not to the gentiles. It is almost 20 miles from Amman (Philadelphia), and 22 from Fahil (Pella). Used with Permission. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Matt 10:5-6; 15:24). v. 37) describe Jesus' healing of the demoniac "Legion" and . 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. Country of the Gerasenes: The town itself is not named in Scripture, and is referred to only in the expression, "country of the Gerasenes" ( Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26,37; see Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Appendix, 11). If Mark or Luke said that only one demoniac came to Jesus while Matthew says that two came out, that would be a contradiction. First, the man is hunted, then stoned, and finally he is killed; this is why the possessed lived among the tombs. 117 so that, by their own confession, a time is coming when there shall be an entire victory of the kingdom of light over that of darkness (Rev. Description:Modern Jerash lies on both banks of Wady Jerash, about 6 miles from its confluence with Wady ez-Zerqa (the Jabbok). [2] It has been a point of contention in discussions of Christianity and animal rights. This condition is fulfilled only by the district immediately South of Wady Semak, North of Qal `at el-Chucn. [a] There, a man "possessed by a demon" comes from the caves to meet him. A small crowd of people was approaching, with the pig herdsmen leading the way. Asked December 18 2016 This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. 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). All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperat 1), and apparently occupied these cities with Jewish patriots. It is also a possibility that in the handing down of New Testament manuscripts over many years, slightly different readings of the same word have developed. Gergesa, Gerasa, or Gadara? Image by The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. ii. A friend of mine told me later that two students were attempting to cast a demon out of a fellow. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Men and women (as well as children) were demonized in that they fell under the influence of these unclean spirits. ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. Why was God angry with Balaam for going with the Moabites. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. As C. S. Lewis aptly put it: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? Many ancient tombs are to be seen in the face of the hills. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Jerash, ancient Gerasa There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. It only takes a minute to sign up. Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. 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. 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. Classical theological commentary cited this story to argue that animals have no moral importance in Christianity. 5 1-5 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. [1] 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 themselves. 4. went through a storm to help one person, that is, the wild man of Gadara. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but . 23, 24, viii. This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. However, the point was clearly made; Jesus, the Son of God, has power over all things, including the powers of darkness. P.S. In my head, I know that your ways are always best. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. 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. A miracle performed by Jesus according to the New Testament. But Christianity early became important in the city; several churches were built during these centuries, so that by the 5th cent., Gerasa could send a bishop to the Council of Chalcedon. In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. For the first time in a long time he was in full control of his mind. 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. 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. Did the scribes realize that God gave Jesus the authority in Mark 11:33? Will a professing Christian go to hell if he never shares the gospel? No ostracism hangs over you.' 2ff., xvv. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. The triumphal arch to the South of the city is almost entire. Ananias and Sapphira did so by allowing their greed to grip their hearts (cf. 1 Response Other demoniacs described in Scripture were bent on self-destruction as well (cf. Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. Were the writers of the synoptic gospel accounts confused about where Jesus was when He healed the men? He had thought he'd been living in hell already. Pig carcasses were washing ashore and drifting out to sea. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). AMP - [10], It has been widely accepted by scholars that several motifs throughout the account refer to the Roman legion. 8:28, "And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs; they were so exceedingly violent that no one could pass by that road.". The whole story is a myth. 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. Now he knew better. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. Satans most useful instrument is the outstanding, outwardly moral and upright religious man, whose good deeds are done independently of God. He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. This fact probably accounts for the presence of a large herd of swine near Gadara when Jesus visited that region to heal the demon-possessed men (Matthew 8:30-33; Mark 5:1-17). 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. How many men came out to meet Jesus in Gerasene? They were not looked upon as necessarily evil in all cases. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. 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. His greatest impact would be on those who knew his former state. 68f. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Why does Jesus tell several people that He heals not to tell anyone, but in John 8:39 He tells the man healed of a legion to go and tell everyone? Matthew 12:43-45). The possessed pigs plunged down a hillside into the lake, where they drowned. The stamp of a ship on Gadarene coins suggests that the region called Gadara probably extended to Galilee (McGarvey, n.d., p. 344; McClintock and Strong, 1969, 3: 706). Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. It's not them. Similar to the storm we see in the book of Job that killed Jobs sons - and Satan was the instigator of that as well. 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! Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? PRAYER: Dear Lord, first of all, I want to thank you for your healing, restoring power. Apostles return from preaching tour; Jesus feeds 5,000 men. 6:30-44. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. The site is identified today with the town of Kersa, or Gersa, just below Wadi es-Samak. The man jumped up and said to him, "Sir, please, may I go with you? But it was there that the grace of God in his life would shine the brightest. There is the so-called demon of doubt, of anger, of overindulgence, of drunkenness, laziness and so on. He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. No! My ways are subtler, and for this reason perhaps even more insidious. tar command with and without --absolute-names option. or by some form of self-emptying (such as various forms of eastern meditation) in my opinion, they are in a precarious position. 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. What was it that they saw? This solution is as old as Origen (Commentary on John, VI, 24) who, faced with the textual problem, suggested that the precise site of the healing of Legion was Gergesa, the small town in the territory of Gadara, but hardly in the more remote territory of Gerasa. What is the significance of the blind man seeing tree-like people walking in Mark 8:22-25? In retaliation for the massacre of the Jews at Caesarea, the Jews sent several raiding parties into the Gentile cities of the Decapolis. War IV. But the people in the town preferred their pigs to Jesus. The exercising of authority over demons, in the land under another god, was a message. 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. 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. Theologian Tom Wright calls him "the first apostle to the gentiles". At this distance from the Sea of Galilee, Gerasa could not have been the site of the healing of Legion. It is doubtful that Jesus ever visited it. Josephus mentions it with Pella and Golan as being taken by storm during Alexander Jannaeus campaign E of the Jordan in about 83 b.c. 9. The best known Gerasa was a Greek city nearly forty miles southeast of the lake (modern village of Khersa, on the east shore of the lake. The particular focus of this mans testimony was the Decapolis region. 128 In most of the stories of possession what is at issue is not merely sickness but a destruction and distortion of the divine likeness of man according to creation. 1 THEY CAME to the other side of the sea to the region of the Gerasenes. 6:45-56 6:14-21. Matt 8:28). Did Jesus command the demon before he fell on his knees in Mark 5:6? One is to disbelieve in their existence. What Jesus wants us to know is that his salvation and his protection extend to those old, horrible haunts. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. 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! Youngblood, Ronald F., ed. And now, with the demons gone, nothing he had ever experienced came close to the safety and peace he felt simply being near Jesus. In any event, the apparent differences in the texts prob. There is, as we know, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. Sometimes to follow Jesus means being sent back to a place where we once knew desolation and indescribable pain. Proof of their awareness of their own contradiction lies in the fact that the chains are never strong enough to convince their victim of their good intentions toward him."[15]. Jesus has lead me away from my old life. The words "return to your home" must have made this man's heart sink. May I open all that I am to you, boldly trusting you. 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. As an alternative to confinement, the demons posed the option of being permitted to enter the pigs, some 2,000 in number, feeding nearby. 10). This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Spam, December 19 2016 Theology of Work Project Online Materials by The High Calling are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore . 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. 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. xvii. Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. 5:2-3? 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. Then the SPCA would have been up in arms over such cruelty to animals. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.110. He is the author of. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. 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. Short story about swapping bodies as a job; the person who hires the main character misuses his body, English version of Russian proverb "The hedgehogs got pricked, cried, but continued to eat the cactus". [15] In his analysis, the opposition of the entire city to the one man possessed by demons is the typical template for a scapegoat. (1) Severe personality change. Heal me, Lord, but let me remain the lord of at least part of my life. Thus, the story in Luke 8:26-39 challenges me to consider how open I really am to the Lord. 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. Pastor John gets to the heart and offers practical suggestions for growing in evangelism. It was the terror of the damned. 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. ( Luke 8:39) How ironic, as others have noted, that the tormentor pleads not to be tormented.

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