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God designated the descendants of Abraham, the Israelites, as His chosen people. Its totally contrary to what we would expect. Jesus is going to tell him, You can't come with Me, but I do want you to go back and tell them what great things God has done for you. He had a new name and he had a new nature to go along with it. ; Mark v.; Luke viii.) (Please dont hold up Mark 7:19b, Jesus made all food clean. Relying on that isolated, half-verse with textual problems makes God look flippant, and therefore, unpredictable and untrustworthy. He is more open with Gentiles because it fits His purpose about revelation to the Gentiles and the new inclusion in the kingdom. Many of you have seen, maybe fewer of you have read, a book by the famous British philosopher and skeptic, Bertrand Russell. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 Its true! The mountainside has caves and hewn tombs where, according to Mark and Luke, the demoniac had taken shelter. Nevertheless, the interconnections within Scripture, from the beginning, to the middle, and to the very end, are wonderful to see, just like a beautiful flower. When people start putting a value on animal life equal to or higher than the value they put on human life, something is seriously wrong with the culture. The History of Rome - Brief Overview Of Roman History from Her Dawn to the First Punic War. The gospels. Connect the dots. From the readings of the best texts and from the unsuitability of the locality around Gadara it appears that the proper reading should be "Gerasenes" and the place located at Karsa, on the left bank of the Wadi Samak, near the sea of Galilee. He is a billionaire, he is about to break Jack Nicklaus record, he's married to a model, he has two beautiful children, he has everything that anybody in the world could possibly want to have. WebWho were the gerasenes in the bible? : A similar remark came from Mosess lips when he described God as eternally faithful and then connected Gods faithfulness to His faithful love. Paul himself said the doers of the Law will be made righteous (Romans 2:13), and that the Law is holy (Romans 7:12) and that the Law is spiritual (Romans 7:14). For one, Leviticus 22:28 forbids righteous farmers from killing a cow and its calf on the same day. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. When Jesus said, A new commandment I give unto you (John 13:34), he instantly had the undivided attention of the Tedious Twelve disciples because they knew changing the Law was forbidden. Look at what he first says when Jesus meets him in verse 28 What do you have to do with me, Jesus? And if I remember correctly, I think there is some tradition about other Apostles going to Spain. The entire herd ran straight off a cliff and drowned. and what Jesus showed here was a love and a grace towards a man in captivity to sin who didn't deserve to be freed and didn't deserve to be forgiven, but Jesus did it anyway. This was a Gentile town so they had pigs. If I still had some misgivings, Id be man enough to share them here. Please note how John repeats the commands, adding a zinger curse to both. A main street with columns on both sides leads out of the forum. In other words, they believe the one who killed the pigs with the demons is equal to the Father. And the good pastor doesnt give any rationale for a slaughter that huge. The heart set free from sin by Jesus. Here, it may well be that a herd of unclean animals has been used to take thousands of demons to their doom in the lake in anticipation of the final judgment. All Rights Reserved. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight." Them there pigs were going to try to hog the limelightthat Jesus was famous for but ended up being lost in more ways than one! In light of these facts, Jesus' ministry in the Gerasenes reveals the Lord's remarkable concern not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Go be a witness to Me as My disciple.. Why? One moose, two moose. They dont care about about the demon possessed men, they want their pigs back, (My opinion) Jesus was raised with sacrifice so animals were thought of for food, not so much as pets like today. Why doesn't the good pastor entertain that avenue of possibility or is he too busy making one-liners to connect any dots? Oops! Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, [Let me just pause right there. In the story of the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus invades enemy territory and defeats a powerful army to deliver people from bondage. Now the big-mouth irking this Greek artisan was our good friend, the Apostle Paul. Therefore, when it came to sacrifices on it, the menu was even shorter. Search the web and you will find many opinions about why the pigs died. And it's the glorious picture of the value that He puts on an immortal soul. Besides, it was Christmas! And low and behold, two gospels specify that Jesus didnt go into Tyre (part of modern Lebanon), but that he was only in the vicinity of the city (Matthew 15:21; Mark 7:24 and Mark 7:31). If the pig farmers were Gentile, why would non-Jewish farmers be so gentle with a Jew (who was also an outsider) who was messing around with their farm animals? Since these events were supposedly witnessed by hundreds (and even thousands of people), it would have been very easy for 1st century critics to debunk it as non-historical. The victorious Lord made life good again for one embattled soul. And what about trees or rocks? What do you love? This man, when Jesus says, What is your name? effectively says, I do not know my name. Besides Johns cute play on words dont add or God will add consider what plagues he might be talking about and what book he might be talking about. These pastors have added to Scripture that the God of the Old Testament is different in the New and taken away from it Mosess 613 commandments are now reduced to 2. The list in the first chapter of Leviticus contains only bovine, sheep, goats and pigeons; all typified later, in Leviticus 11, as clean/pure animals. 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. Look again at John 15:10. Take the first chapter of Genesis for example; ones interpretation of it depends on whether one thinks its a historical retelling of creation, or just a poem. Thus, we are not surprised that there was "a great herd of pigs" feeding near the tombs where the Gerasene demoniac was living (5:11). He made a covenant with them and revealed His commandments to them, which they were to live according to. Remember, Jesus took direct, extensive action against a significant group of Gentile pig farmers he didnt just say something bad against the pigs. Such a statement is irresponsible because the Law was not written for a single person. It seems Jesus allowed the demons to destroy the pigs so that the people could see just what demons are up to when they assault people. ESV - 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Of course this kosher interpretation is just as obvious painfully obvious to John MacArthur and Piper, yet I've never seen either refute the issue or deal honestly with their doubts. The apostle had been busy preaching in Demetriuss hometown of Ephesus and Pauls message about the one true God was catching on. What are you doing here, man of God? And then he attempted to intimidate him. Download Microsoft .NET 3.5 SP1 Framework. Before the war it was a Gentile settlement. And then they beg to go into the herd of pigs. What does it say? The Spectators probably from all over the world! But the Jews were promised and re-promised their land by God throughout the Law: Genesis 15:7, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 33:52-53, Deuteronomy 1:8 are just a few examples. p. 102. Besides the jokes being in poor taste, they make his sermon seem less than professional. He's set free. Instead of Jesus turning water into wine. Jesus made him whole. We gotta git us some!, 1 ) [your turn. It's a glorious picture of Jesus love for lost souls, even a Gentile. Without a doubt, both men know God never came up with the line, Third Fact: Not a fickle faithless Father. Plus, these additions by John connect back to other passages in interesting ways. That will give us the perfect answer. If our faithful, unchanging Heavenly Father God made a straightforward decisive yet divisive decision and repeated it over and over and over, then why cant the good pastors connect the dots and figure out Jesuss real relationship to the pigs? He's no longer under the domination of demons or his own sin. This has been a long blog thanks for sticking with it but because Im going to ruffle feathers, Ive gone the extra mile to explain myself clearly and to plug any holes in my argument. (, Still, Jesus was not in Gadarenes for judging; he was there, Not contrary, but consistent with Christs Character, Here is a prophesy that Christians love to quote: , The LORD has sworn it and He will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, after the nature of Melchizedek. The LORD is upon your right hand. Mark as quoted by Spalde, Annika; Strindlund, Pelle (2012). This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Pingback: The Prophet in the Hometown A Pilgrim in Augsburg. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes: (These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. Actually, killing the pigs was also out of his mercy because instead of judging the farmers directly, the Messiah threw his anger against the pigs. were badly damaged in major (eds.). There he meets a man seized with an unclean spirit (Mark) or with demons (Luke). On the other hand, the Masters usually thick-headed students, the Tedious Twelve, didnt question him about this! It pains them to admit that Jesus was/is a Jewish Messiah and not a Christian one. Many year later, Messiah went to Israel as a prophet to get the people of Israel back to his Law. 9 ) They were wild Ferrel hogs feeding near the cliffs. Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? But when Jesus explained that the commandment was the old one from Leviticus, Love one another, they signed with relief, seeing how he was just underscoring the command that God already gave (Leviticus 19:18). Not that I believe my case has holes. John 13:34 was the one single, solitary time that the Master told his disciples, I give you a new commandment. However, the commandment wasnt a new commandment. The real irritation is people saying the Law was impossible to obey, when Scripture says the opposite it true. Since all of these areas overlap, one may take the references as meaning the same place. Therefore, when it came to sacrifices on it, the menu was even shorter. So much for sola scriptura. We have seen that God Almighty loves animals as much as humans, so Jesus randomly killing two thousand swine seems senseless, unless we remember God has commanded righteous people to avoid defiling food, such as pork. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. Is there actually a real reason why the Gospel accounts shouldnt be taken as factual history? Israels real enemy is Satan. 7). God told Jonah that it was not just all the people, but also so much livestock (Jonah 4:11). Out of the three, Marks gospel presents the most information about the herd. He has authored, co-authored, edited, or contributed to numerous books. While animal-abuse cases arent normally rampant among church-goers, its no thanks to this bishops official policy. Go be a witness to Me. Learn how your comment data is processed. But what does Leviticus says about ham? New International Version (NIV), Encyclopedia of The Bible Gerasa, Gerasenes. Israel doesnt [need] a savior who can fight off a legion of Roman soldiers. Asked by: Isidro Boehm V. Score: 4.9/5 to biblical Galilee, regarded, in opposition to Judaea, as a country of Gentiles (as in Matthew 4:15) What was Jairus occupation? 9 Will the demons come back? Ruins of the temple of Artemis, some columns still standing, are on another hillside above the ruins. Who were the gerasenes in the bible? One Bible expositor said the pigs the demons sought refuge in were black. Those outside of the nation of Israel were considered gentiles. The text of Mark 5 says pigs were nearby, but it doesnt say they were the only things nearby. He should know that centuries before the prophet Isaiah spoke against Jews eating pork and hanging around in tombs. Jesus was a Jew. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies. Yet this is exactly what Christians believe; Jesus came to fulfill (but think annul) the Law and then start a whole new religion. All four gospel writers repeatedly testify to Jesuss power over storm, waves and. War I. iv. 8 ) Their pork was kosher, kept out of the camp for 7 days, and circumcised. Here is a prophesy that Christians love to quote: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110.4) because it connects to Messiah Jesus. SO Jesu said later in the NT, that meats going in the mouth does not defile because we excrete it out in the draught, solid and liquids, so physically our body cleans itself if there were toxins, and It is whatever comes out of the mind, is what taints a person, whatever he or she thinks. That is how valuable human life is." From Jesus's own mouth, we are informed of Gods special love and attention for defenseless animals and we know Jesus has the same heart for the weak. The Psalmist states that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills Because to me belong every beast of the wood, every herd on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10, and were assuming Jesus the Second Person of the triune God had equal rights to those hills and those cattle.). Heavenly Father this is Your Word. The action is no different than, Lets return again to when Jesus cleaned up the Temple courtyard of merchants and merchandise. Sproul writes in his commentary Mark that the compassion of Jesus "drove Him to destroy the pigs for the sake of one human life. [] Top ten reasons why there were pigs in Gerasenes, (Linear Concepts, 17 October 2012), http://www.linearconcepts.com/archives/2011 []. No Jewish farmer would keep swine, and no Jewish region would tolerate the presence of pigs, let alone two thousand of them (Mark 5:13). Note that Jesus never touched the demon-inhabited individual: He merely spoke to him, commanding the evil to depart. Christians never finish reading the chapter. (So much for those latter revelations or new religions arriving centuries later.). Sinai. As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. The good pastor actually believes that a Jewish man can rationally decide the best sleeping quarters Tomb or no tomb? Who were the gerasenes in the bible? The demons freak out that Jesus is there because its not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. Demetrius had to do something with the Jew or go bust. In Luke 4 and 5, great multitudes are following Jesus Christ when He does His miracles. Wed also have to confess that the farmers were not Gentile. But look at how many times God let it be known in the Law and in very certain terms eating pork was offensive. It was like, Read my lips, Saul! To any Jew, Jesuss actions were crystal clear. Dictionaries Encyclopedias Lexicons. In his description of the boundaries of Perea, Josephus mentions Gerasa as one of the cities on the eastern boundary between Perea and Arabia, the other border cities being Philadelphia and Sebonitus (Jos. The action is no different than Revelation 14:14-15 where we see the Son of Man brandishing a sharp sickle. And as Palmer approached him at the fireside, the man identified Palmer before he got there. William Arthur Dunkerley (November 12, 1852 January 23, 1941) was a prolific English journalist, novelist and poet. WebGentiles [N] [T] [B] [S] (Heb., usually in plural, goyim), meaning in general all nations except the Jews. I listen to a pyschiatrist that said he never believed in demon possession until a exorcist ask him to work with him. Just like in the Garden, when God judged Adam, he didn't strike him directly, but the ground soil instead. WebGadarenes. For these reasons, the writers of the gospels gave no explanation and the Twelve asked no question about why Jesus destroyed all the swine. So did the demons surprise him? Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Money Maker Software may be used on two systems alternately on 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or more subscriptions. So whats the point because Pastor John Piper feels the pigs were less important and John LOL MacArthur just jokes about the slaughter neither reaction seems sensible. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Clearly, Luke is telling you this because he wants you to show the amazing power of Jesus Christ, even over demons. (, Worse yet, dont trust one who says Scripture. Or, what if Paul had knocked two thousand dolls into the drink would he have written as many epistles as he did, while having to dogpaddle? I'm the man who Jesus saved by casting out the demons from me.. No other place on the E side of the sea fits this requirement of the story. Later, Leviticus 11 explains to His Chosen People that He had chosen only ritually clean/pure animals for them to eat. And did the Gospels writers believe the explanation was so obvious they didn't need to write one? He knew how bad it was going to go for the pigs. A wonderful verse that reveals Him to us and probably the most heartwarming is the commandment in the Torah that mother animals are allowed to stay with their newborns for at least seven days before the offspring can be taken for food or for sacrifice (, All of these commandments and more are still taken literally by many Jews today. For centuries, land wars are a type of a national sport among Middle Eastern nations. The pagan religions continued among the Gentile population as is evidenced by the ruins of the temple of Artemis. It is a wonderful fact, but unlike you and I, Gods character is constant and consistent I AM that I AM and understanding His unchanging nature is at the center of forming the right interpretation of Mark 5. The Gemara on the passage gives a historical foundation for the practise in the times of Aristobulus. In fact, the next thing the name did was to take a steel bar, place it in his teeth, and proceed to bend it with his hands and with his teeth. Gergesa is located, with relative certainty, midway along the E bank of the Sea of Galilee; Gadara is six m. SE from the S end of the Sea of Galilee; and Gerasa is some thirty-five m. SE. This was the authentic Messiah that the Jews were waiting for. So He got into the boat and returned. Both Johns could conveniently connect the dots between the Law of God which outlaws the swine and the destructive action which Jesus took against the herd, but it would be too inconvenient for their religious views. Therefore he had every right to judge the Jews and how they used land. Fear and selfishness prompted the prayer. Instead they joke around and give pat answers. Yet a number of objections immediately spring to mind. Well that's the first thing we see in this passage. First of all theyre forgetting that Jesus Himself has already said that His Heavenly Father cares even about the sparrows that fall from their nests.