We are not by Matt Slick | Apr 6, 2023 | Bible Studies. The people were gentiles who had not yet any interest in the Messiah. Jesus allows the fleeing evil spirits to enter a herd of pigs which promptly run into the sea and drown. 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. Gerasa is mentioned next by Josephus in connection with the Jewish rebellion against the Romans in a.d. 70. A word of clarification is in order here for we must recognize that in this account the dark side of Satan is exposed, but this is perhaps the more unusual side of Satan. The Greek word in Matthew 8:28, however, reveals that Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes (p. 23). 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Son of God was their term. 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 . But what does that look like practically? The sons of god ended up becoming the gods of these nations. Lucius Annius, at the instance of Vespasian, sacked and burned the city, with much slaughter (BJ, IV, ix, 1). He calls the inhabitants Syrians, when, at the beginning of the Jewish revolt, the district round Gerasa was laid waste. The ego is so impaired that the spirits speak through him. city in Pal. It is even possible that his request was to become one of our Lords disciples.125. Gergesa (). Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. The herd, about two thousand in number, rush down the steep bank into the sea and are drowned. 9. But Jesus told him to go back. 1 THEY CAME to the other side of the sea to the region of the Gerasenes. John imagines what the back-story of this man might have been and explores themes of redemption and reconciliation. Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man. Matt. And, Gerasene was one. 14). They didn't understand! A few men went on to survey the dead floating herd. How do I stop the Flickering on Mode 13h? The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! The miracle of Gerasa reverses the universal schema of violence fundamental to all societies of the world. how many times did jesus go to gerasenes [1] Jesus, now about 30 years old (Lk 3:23) travels from his home-town of Nazareth in Galilee. Before the war it was a Gentile settlement. 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. It was the terror of the damned. The ruins are wide and imposing and are better preserved than any others on the East of Jordan. 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. The presence of a copious spring of sweet water makes it probable that the site has been occupied from olden time; but no trace remains of any ancient city. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. But Jesus motioned to Peter to ready the boat. We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. Archeology. This town is not to be confused with either Gerasa or Gadara. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one . The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. We come to a riveting, compelling, fascinating, gripping story, an incident in the life of our Lord which introduces us again to His divine power. Traces of ancient buildings in the vicinity show that there must have been a fairly numerous population in the district.2. You should not suggest in any way that The High Calling or Theology of Work endorses you or your use of the work. Gerasa is identified from various sources as a city in Arabia, Decapolis, Gilead, or Perea. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). Five squad cars converged on it. I know this, yet, like the people in the story, I can hesitate. F. F. Bruce adds additional helpful insight: According to the best texts, Matthew calls it the country of the Gadarenes (viii. This topical nine-session Bible study contains tips and encouragement to live a life of generosity and fruitfulness, helping us to redeem our use of resources by nurturing biblical attitudes. The thought of returning there conjures up fears of our old demons and the people who knew us as we were back then. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. Youngblood, Ronald F., ed. Matthew recorded that Jesus commanded demons to come out of two men (8:29). It is almost 20 miles from Amman (Philadelphia), and 22 from Fahil (Pella). What is the significance of the blind man seeing tree-like people walking in Mark 8:22-25? The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. May I open all that I am to you, boldly trusting you. ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz (Gerasa; Gerasenon): 1. They asked Jesus to leave that place. 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. v. 37) describe Jesus' healing of the demoniac "Legion" and . He wasn't very big. He recognized most of them. But it was there that the grace of God in his life would shine the brightest. Swine were unclean animals according to the Torah. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! None of the accounts indicate why Jesus allowed the demons to go into the swine, but certainly it was better that they go into the pigs than into people. 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. It was besieged by Baldwin II, in 1121 A.D. It is clear that Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not contradict each otherin fact, they complemented each other. For the Christian, there are two extremes which must be avoided with reference to Satanic activity. Theologian Tom Wright calls him "the first apostle to the gentiles". 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). PRAYER: Dear Lord, first of all, I want to thank you for your healing, restoring power. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? Luke 8:26-38 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (). 9. (4) Our Lord did not command the demons to enter into the pigs and bring about their destruction; He only permitted it.124. Jesus was saying, (demonstrating) that He had all authority, in any land. Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12), whose leader and prince is Satan (Matthew 12:24). If they would just listen to what he had to say. 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. 606-607. 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. When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). Ananias and Sapphira did so by allowing their greed to grip their hearts (cf. No, on the contrary, they begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them (8:37). Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. Unbelieving men may not rave and carry on like the Gerasene demoniac, but they are nevertheless under Satans control, doing his bidding. For less than $5/mo. 23, 24, viii. 125 This is the position of Lane, Mark, p. 187. Some appeared not to be oppressed by them so much as exploiting their powers (cf. From this disaster it appears soon to have recovered, and the period of its greatest prosperity lay, probably, in the 2nd and 3nd centuries of our era. Metzger, Bruce M. (1975 corrected edition), A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (New York, NY: United Bible Societies). 14:22-36. What scares you away from being fully sold-out as a disciple of Jesus? Even in our sophisticated times, there is an intense interest in the supernatural and the occult. Gerasa was rebuilt in splendor and remained prosperous for several centuries. 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! 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. Gergesa, Gerasa, or Gadara? War IV. [15] In his analysis, the opposition of the entire city to the one man possessed by demons is the typical template for a scapegoat. An inscr. When once he was an instrument of Satanic opposition against the Messiah, now he is a witness to His power. But the rest stopped some twenty feet away. 4. No one could restrain himhe couldn't be chained, couldn't be tied down. Jesus' power was clean, holy. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore . It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. I will not look for a reason to return to it. Gerasa was a city situated near the Jabbok River about eighteen m. E of the Jordan, about twenty m. SE of Pella, and twenty m. N of Philadelphia. When our Lord confronted the demons, they had to submit to His power and authority. . 113 According to the Talmud there were four characteristics of madness: walking abroad at night; spending the night on a grave; tearing ones clothes and destroying what one was given. The longest and nearly detailed account of Jesus and the Gadarene swine is plant in the . Then he notes that he was clothed and in his own mind (Luke 8:35). Matthew, Mark, and Luke were writing of the same general area. Jewish theology, at least on this point, seems consistent with biblical revelation. Origen (Commentary on John 6:24 41 [on John 1:28]) cited a local tradition that there had been a town called "Gergasa" on the lake shore.[7]. Was it one or two? It was a region of 10 Greco-Roman cities, a Gentile region. What Is hyssop and why Is It so significant in the Bible? Now he knew better. Romans 9:19-23). Even the demons confessed that He was the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. conquest of Syria in 65 b.c. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. The truth is that I am both drawn to you because of this and also a bit scared. War II. The Greek word in Matthew 8:28, however, reveals that Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes (p. 23). Does a password policy with a restriction of repeated characters increase security? Not long after that, while I was still a student in seminary, there was a car parked by the seminary in a somewhat suspicious manner and I called the police to check it out. You could hear alarm in their voices. [2] It has been a point of contention in discussions of Christianity and animal rights. The ruins of the town are not considerable; but there are remains of a strong wall which must have surrounded the place. In the King James Version it is called the country of the Gadarenes in Mark and Luke, and of the Gergesenes in Matthew. Unfortunately, like anyone who feels wrongfully yet feasibly accused, the Gerasenes protest violently, they protest their good faith with violence, thereby reinforcing the terror of the possessed. Jesus asks the demon for his name and is told "My name is Legion, for we are many". In retaliation for the massacre of the Jews at Caesarea, the Jews sent several raiding parties into the Gentile cities of the Decapolis. Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). Whatever witchcraft Jesus possessed, they wanted it far away from them. It was significant. The confrontation between the powers of heaven and hell are nowhere seen in better perspective than in Marks account of the encounter of the Gerasene demoniac with our Lord Jesus Christ. 1, pp. These forces plundered Gerasa, Philadelphia, Pella, and others (Jos. Says he is "the bread of life"; many are stumbled and leave 6:22-71. A city in Transjordania, situated about thirty-five m. SE of the S end of the Sea of Galilee, one of the cities of the Decapolis; the inhabitants of the city. 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.

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