November 2014. 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. 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. One is to disbelieve in their existence. November 2017 2). The before and after descriptions of the demoniac reveal that he was a totally different person under demonic influence. Another reason could be as Dr. R.C. Horoscopes and astrological predictions are found in most major newspapers. It is ironic that while the demons didnt want to leave the country, the dwellers of that land didnt want the Messiah to stay. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. 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. June 2017 Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. 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. 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 expression to be with Jesus is used particularly of His disciples (cf. Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? and our His teachings have inspired great moral reformations such as abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. They were among North Korea's elite, but they fled anyway. Here's why If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. They valued their pigs more than they valued salvation. June 2021 15; Mark ix. August 2020 Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. The city of Gadara and its surrounding area are referred to as the Gadarenes. July 2020 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. December 2020 Now they were delivered and ready to be productive members of society. 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. As indicated in the textual note, the best Greek text reads Gerasenes in Mark and Luke, Gadarenes in Matthew. Gadara, though not directly named in Scripture, was part of the Decapolis. August 2017 Matthew 9:2-8 Why was "This man is blaspheming" considered an evil thought without knowing Jesus' identity? 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. "And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a bo." 14. We see people in other places where he worked miracles, endeavoring to make him their king (Jn 6:15) . 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. Then the Livestock Association and consumer groups would have been greatly distressed over the sudden decrease in the pig population and the resulting impact on pork prices. What Does Luke 8:37 Mean? "And all the people of the country of the April 2016 November 2022 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). Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. February 2018 We read at Mk 5:14-17 (NRSVCE), the immediate after-effects of the driving out of evil spirits by Jesus at Gerasene by allowing them to enter pigs: The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Though Legion bowed before Jesus (verse 6), it was no act of worship (as the King James Version would seem to indicate). Why ChatGPT should be considered a malevolent AI - and be destroyed At their request, He left. October 2022 . The demons in the man recognize Jesus and the man bows before him. For more information, please see our Matthew 12:43-45). Bible-believing Christians have always accepted the fact of demons and their activity in New Testament times, but most of us are inclined to relegate demonic activity in these days to pagan lands and missionary experiences. Their first question is a rather pragmatic one, namely, How can demons possess animals? To this we must confess that we know too little to understand the mechanism of demon possession but the reality is very evident. 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. This was a region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. All Scripture agrees with this, that the judgment of the angels is yet to come (1 Cor. The word translated windstorm here, and storm in the KJ, is the word lailaps, which is more than just a storm. 2. Life with him would be heaven on earth. What did Jesus do? May 2018 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. The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. People who have no appr Catholic Church. Demons are highly organized (cf. 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. 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. Thayers Greek Lexicon defines it as the space lying between two places or limits region or country. The Sea of Galilee was clearly one of the limits. So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. It is a violent tempest, that is, outside of the natural. 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 can flip a coin hoping for heads, but you know that tails is a very real probability. 13; Luke iv. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. But then also Christ will triumph, and finally put an end to the evil one and all his powers of darkness (Rev. Even in our sophisticated times, there is an intense interest in the supernatural and the occult. I understand why," the HBO "Real Time" host told Jake Tapper on Tuesday as part . The region and polygon don't match. What was it that caused these people to react in such a way? We are seeking a replacement and hope to have it in your newspaper soon. 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). (3) Our Lord was moved with compassion by the torment of Legion and the loss of these pigs should in no way dim our view of the deliverance of the demoniac. What scared them was a power so fierce it could free a man. When you get a chance, please take the, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. 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. So who was afraid? John 8:32; Matthew 11:28-30), or to be the pawns of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). Who do you care more about, people or pigs? I think that this story is a little bit of an Easter story. 0 Responses Verse 1. The spread of cholera was linked to the movements of . For more information about Glenn Davis see our About Glenn page and/or his Author's Page. Thats just westernised interpretation which simply doesnt work when interpretating a Jewish book. recognizes the military background of the term, pointing out that in the imperial period a legion consisted of 6000 foot soldiers, 120 horsemen and technical personnel. December 2016 Welcome to Biblical Hermeneutics! The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). Hence it would be called the land of the Gadarenes.. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. 118 H. We see the first reaction to this in the storm MARK 4:7 And a great windstorm arose [snip]. xvi. The Politics of Luke 8:26-39 | Political Theology Network It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Legion of Demons - NeverThirsty March 2018 Textual variations have compounded the problem. 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. verse 5). It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. October 2017 Why did the demons ask to be cast into the herd of pigs, and why did the pigs then run into the water to be drowned? That is why the inhabitants of the area are referred to variously in different Bible manuscripts as Gergasenes, Gadarenes, or Gerasenes. 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. What they were not willing to accept was the frightening power that could cure him. Also, frequently associated with demon possession was a super-human strength (cf. November 2021 As these people began to piece together the previous events, not only of the destruction of the pigs, but also the deliverance of Legion, they began to sense that there was One far more awesome, much more to be feared, than Legion. He said unexpected things and lived by a high ethical standard. No matter who you are. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. 2,8) who can possess men and animals. As the servant of Elisha was told, Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization We should be warned that fooling with these Satanic fronts is like experimenting with drugs. They look forward to their future with great dread. He shivered at the disturbing memory. June 2015 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. 123 1. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. Understand the meaning of Luke 8:37 using all available Bible versions and commentary. (6) Tendency towards self-destruction. May 2020 Why did the Gerasenes become afraid when they saw that the - Reddit Series NotesScripture references are based on the King James translation. 112 Skeptics and liberals have made much of the differences between the Gospel writers as to the place Jesus landed with His disciples. 1) He Exposes Evil (v 28-30) . The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. There is no true freedom and fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer of men. Who Were The Gerasenes In The Bible? - Mastery Wiki What did we miss because we allowed fear instead of faith to drive our lives? The demoniacs were mere maniacs, whom Jesus cured by humouring their fancies; and His giving leave to imaginary demons to enter into the swine, produced the story of the disaster to the herd.All these explanations assume that the Gospel narratives are wholly or in part unhistorical. Plummer, Luke, p. 228. Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . You will receive a monthly newsletter with Scriptural teaching plus notifications of any new articles, courses or books. This makes sense, I couldn't believe they asked Jesus to leave. 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. 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).
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