It was not the loss of their property or investment that caused them to be afraid of Jesus. Satan loves those Christians. Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee? June 2017 Second, while the death of the pigs is clearly an economic loss for the owner, Jesus is illustrating the infinite value of human life. May 2016 The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. 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. Five squad cars converged on it. Catholic Church. But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. A land that was essentially under another god (lower case g). 127 The view of Greek philosophy was that these were the spirits of those who lived in the Golden Age. Is there a single-word adjective for "having exceptionally strong moral principles"? Like it or not, demons and demonic activity are likely to become much more of a concern to you in days to come. Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. 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. "They sailed to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. Here is one of the few times that a miracle drove people away, rather than to draw them to Jesus. 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). April 2021 Anonymous, October 25 2014 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Why did Jesus have the authority to forgive sins, why did the scribes take it as a blasphemy, and was this authority also given to men in general? 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. verse 5). Until we decide on a new comic, you'll likely see a gray box where "Dilbert" had appeared. For those near by the local name would be used; but in writing to a distant people, as the Greeks and Romans, the more comprehensive and general name would be given.. "I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level because I don't think he likes me. 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. The fear of the unknown, the uncontrollableof change. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. Although Gadarenes and Gergesenes are derived from a different Greek word, they are essentially referring to the same area. May 2020 14. September 2016 Privacy Policy. The people who witnessed this are . Or they are too afraid of what the change might bring. So they refer to Gerasenes. Jesus asked Mary why she was crying at the grave site. When the Gadarenes saw what Christ was capable of, they panicked. Although demon-possession after that time no longer occurs on such a devastating and noticeable scale, the absolute form of demon-possession will appear at the end of the age in the Antichrist and in his followers (2 Thess. 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. He was a totally safe Person. What about us, as Christians, are we afraid of Jesus? Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized . The demoniacs frightened the swine, and the transfer of demons from them to the swine was imagined. 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. Pastor Chrissy is a native of East Tennessee. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. What did Jesus mean when he said only prayer can cast out this demon? Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. Is it a bug? Why do people like Jesus a lot? Then any greatest of men, like any prophet, hero or king? August 2015 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. The demoniac was uncontrollable by any of the normal means of human confinement. . Yes, I know that Easter was weeks ago in April. Is there any archaeological evidence for Joshua entering Israel and conquering cities in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age? May 2018 Romans 9:19-23). December 2016 Who do you care more about, people or pigs? The man looked out on the Tiberius. April 2018 They came face-to-face with the Son of God, the Being with the power to change their world forever, and they said, "Please leave." Why? September 2015 The most likely answer is to the country of the Gerasenes: i.e., Gerasa, a Greek town thought to be the same as the similarly-named Kersa on the east shore of Lake Tiberias. 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. Accordingly this was not merely an ordinary form of mental disease as some writers have alleged, but a special phenomenon which was particularly frequent during Jesus earthly sojourn and thus was directly connected with His coming to destroy the power of darkness. 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. November 2021 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). Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. They had been unable to control these two men [Luke only mentions one man, but Matthew tells us there were two]. It indicates full and permanent control. when He was the only One Who truly knew what had happened. 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 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). In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were So he got into the boat and left. Verse 1. In all three instances the word is chra (Strongs word #5561). It had nothing to do the farmers losing revenue - at all. 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). Most people confessed to having the fear of things not working out, an inability to trust and others said they . Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight.". This suggests that whoever was the customer for the swineherder in the "region of the Gerasenes", it was not the Roman army to any significant extent. March 2016 Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. 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. To the evildoer, anonymity is always preferable to identification. He obviously attracted crowds. While the Jews had not denied the works of Jesus were supernatural, they had declined to admit they established His deity. Acts 16:16), while others were the virtual pawns of these spirits, losing their own identity and autonomy. They were content where they were. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. And they were afraid. For some people, the cost is too high. March 2022 It hit them hard in the pocketbook. The occult and every front for demonic influence and activity should be avoided like the plague. Some illicitly use drugs, supposing that they have them completely under their control. I will not ask him to leave. The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. August 2016 Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. Since the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave in their fear, it seems that Jesus' ability to exorcise Legion was disturbing to the people. The spectrum ranges from those who seem to control the demonic powers to those who are utterly controlled by them. January 2015 November 2020 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. It might be better to hide behind masks than risk being hurt again After all, if God rejects youwhere else can you go? The Politics of Luke 8:26-39. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. Their influence and control leads to untold agony and destruction. Have we stepped back, in effect asking Jesus to leave us alone, only to discover, as a Gentleman, He did? Brazilian Charity Caring for Children Who Survived Abortions Issues Urgent Appeal, Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die, The Meat of the Matter: St. Patricks Day and the Lenten Fast. 4. October 2015 "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." Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. I will not look for a reason to return to it. They all say country of (in the sense of region, not nation). So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine . Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? Another reason they may have been afraid of Jesus was the realization that if they accepted Him, it would mean a radical change of lifestyle. The demons in the man recognize Jesus and the man bows before him. These people from the region of the Gerasenes had undoubtedly felt the anger or disgust of Jews for making a career out of such unclean animals, but Jesus had not criticized them for their profession. It's a curious passage with many unanswered questions. Life with him would be heaven on earth. If Jesus had that kind of power, then He could not be controlled. The swine then immediately killed themselves by rushing off a cliff. In the form of tongues as of fire, the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. (CCC 696). 8ff.). In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. It is noteworthy that Jesus nowhere speaks of forgiveness of sins or of purification-sacrifices, that have to be brought after His curing of such cases (as He did in some cases of physical illness). and 1 Kings xxii. In fact the region was known as the Gadarenes-Gerasenes region. 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! 28); Mark the country of the Gerasenes (v. 1), and Luke, probably, the country of the Gergesenes (viii. He who feared His arrival now dreaded His departure. Its important to note that this was the first demonstration of Jesuss authority outside of Canaan. The region and polygon don't match. 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. The whole story is a myth. Second (and primarily), Mark employs this event to authenticate the claims of Jesus to be the Son of God and Israels Messiah. One is to disbelieve in their existence. Men in their unbelief suppose that the choice is either to be free (independent of God) or to be the slaves of Christ.