Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. PDF A Legion of Fears Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. I would like to invite you to return to where we left off a few weeks ago in our studies in the gospel of Mark. What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. 4 Reasons Jesus Cast Demons Into a Herd of Pigs When the townspeople arrived on the scene, they saw the formerly demon-possessed men, clothed, in their right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus. Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. The Gospels use different names for the place where this occurred: This is supposedly a contradiction. Gerasa is (as we know) some 30-35 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, but may have also been the name of the larger region. 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. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? 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. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 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. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. Why are you Afraid? | Mark 4:35 - 5:20 | RayStedman.org 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. The subject of demons and demon possession has always seemed somewhat remote and academic to sophisticated 20th century Americans. August 2015 Thus an economic lose of revenue was involved. Once naked, he is now clothed. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Gergesa may have been a variant spelling of Gerasa. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), p. 70. The Secret behind Jesus Healing the Gerasene Demoniac Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). (5) What our Lord could have given the people of this territory was much greater than what He took away. So they refer to Gerasenes. We dismiss it the more readily, that, in our view, it conveys a wrong impression. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. These men were a danger to themselves and others. No! First of all, I believe Mark was attempting to warn his Gentile readers of the great danger of demonic influence and activity. Afraid of Jesus? | Sermons | College Park Church Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). The Gadarene: When Following Jesus Means Going Home It was significant. Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? February 2016 The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. This incident in the Gerasenes requires some entry understanding. 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 was a totally safe Person. Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. Satan loves those Christians. 4. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. 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. or school. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. 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. Where it falls apart for me is why the Bellonas, knowing that only one person is allowed to survive each duel, take the defeat so personally. Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. Acts 5:1-6). Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another . seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. The region and polygon don't match. At the conclusion of this day of teaching by parables, the Lord had instructed His disciples to cross over the Sea of Galilee to the other side. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . And they were afraid. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. How Satan blinds our minds! They are unclean spirits, (vss. Lets learn why. John 8:32; Matthew 11:28-30), or to be the pawns of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). 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. 0 Responses July 2016 That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes. The region was not poor or economically depressed. 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. 5. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. . July 2015 There probably were not many who had been told yet of the Messiah, and so were not yet believers. 3. to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. 122 Quoted by Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to Saint Luke, (Edinburg: T. and T. Clark, 5th ed., 1969): p. 228. 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). At first we may deceive ourselves into thinking that we are controlling them, but the ultimate likelihood is that they will master us. 123 1. This request was granted and the entire herd rushed headlong to their own destruction. 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) T. H. Huxley, in his Essays upon some Controverted Questions (1892), made merry over the escapade of the Gadarene swine, running the seven miles between Gadar and the lake of Galilee, crossing the deep river Yarmuk en route. No! When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. 2ff., xvv. 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. Those demons were terrified of Him! His greatest impact would be on those who knew his former state. His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 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! You can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. The man looked out on the Tiberius. December 2015 August 2020 Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. October 2015 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 22, xvii. Such must have been the response of those with our Lord. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. The religious rulers hated Jesus for exposing their hypocrisy and feared the consequences His actions might have with Rome, but they were not afraid of Jesus as a Person. The demoniac further evidenced demon activity by the depth of his spiritual insight. Privacy Policy. Matthew 8:28 - 29, 31, 34And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. Why were the Romans afraid of the Christians? 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. Who was afraid of Jesus and why? 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.

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