absolutely anne..there are a few scenarios..nothing more exciting than digging into the Word of God!! Post the Definition of Gerasene to Facebook, Share the Definition of Gerasene on Twitter, More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary, Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes. WebHealing of a Demoniac. That is why Im not saying I totally believed the stories, but I cannot believe that a single other place could not be found to send the legion. Money Maker Software is compatible with AmiBroker, MetaStock, Ninja Trader & MetaTrader 4. Therefore he had every right to judge the Jews and how they used land. 2023. Christ's journey into "the country of the Gerasenes" (Mark 5:1) was somewhat unusual. Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? Scripture presents us with all we need to know. After stilling the storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus lands with his disciples on the eastern shore of the lake. The tricky bit is finding the correct reason why gentle Jesus dumped hundreds of murderous, unclean spirits on so many swine. The power and the person of Jesus Christ. Be circumspect. Note: Demetrius was angry only because of speculation of what Pauls preaching might do to business Paul had not physically caused any damage. And based roughly on current prices, Jesus caused hundred of thousands of dollars in damages. And John nicely parallels Jesus who said, not the smallest letter nor the smallest comma will pass away from the Law (Matthew 5:18). He loves our souls. And thirdly, they are forgetting the fate of this man with an immortal soul who was in danger not only of a continuous life of torment, but an eternal separation from God. We should ask the good pastors if love thy neighbour as thyself has any bearing on killing your neighbours livestock. They were not. (, But MacArthurs logical is funny for another reason. 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. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Besides the jokes being in poor taste, they make his sermon seem less than professional. He's set free. Without a doubt, both men know God never came up with the line, Put pork on your fork. Yes, this man is extraordinary. When Jesus asked the mans name always a good way to start a conversation the demons replied, We are Legion, for we are many. A legion is a Roman military unit consisting of four to six thousand soldiers. He was incapable of changing his circumstances. So why do Christians say no one can when these two did? James Gibson. What do you love? Lots of non-Jews lived there. The land of the Gerasenes was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Who were the gerasenes in the bible? Living in rural Central Africa villages for ten years, I heard many stories from locals about demon spirits living in streams and trees and boulders. He wouldnt have lived long enough to get to a cross to die. So why did the meek n merciful Son of Man cast countless defiling demons into two thousand piglets, sows and boars? Echoes of Exodus in the Land of theGerasenes, Wesleys Eschatological Optimism Explains itAll, The Prophet in the Hometown A Pilgrim in Augsburg, The Methodist Million Dollar Appeal in World WarII. Just like in the Garden, when God judged Adam, he didn't strike him directly, but the ground soil instead. But let me just suggest that one thing that might be happening here is a picture of Jesus future judgment on the demonic forces that are arrayed against God. At least Im man enough to admit possible weaknesses in my arguments and to talk about the elephants in the room. Gergesenes means "those who come from pilgrimage or fight." One Bible expositor said the pigs the demons sought refuge in were black. But there are many reasons why Im not keen on the idea of the Gospels as non-historical. And that permanence of the Law matches well with the fact that the first time, and the second, He wrote the Ten Commandments in stone: Exodus 31:18 and again, Exodus 34:1. it depends on the text you read, but one of the four Greek words is sometimes neuter, sometimes masculine a big deal in this language and in this verse. It's a glorious picture of Jesus love for lost souls, even a Gentile. Don Crowe and Nicholas Gentile direct the Oswego Players Scenes of Crime; Section X: Canton downs Heuvelton for repeat Overall Section 10 title; Section X: Lady Wildcats edge Hammond for Section Overall title; PROPERTY SALES; Local pro hockey: Former Wolves player Liarakos paces Mississippi past visiting Watertown But once the door is open, well, we see in this story what can happen when you give in, what can happen when the demonic takes over. The modern village Jarash is situated on the hillside above the ruins, built with stones from the ruins. The action is no different than Revelation 14:14-15 where we see the Son of Man brandishing a sharp sickle. Worse yet, dont trust one who says Scripture evolves. 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. Most translations interpret the Hebrew to say, Canaanite, but both are more than possible and perhaps the double meaning was intended by the prophet. 8 ) Their pork was kosher, kept out of the camp for 7 days, and circumcised. In the three Synoptic Gospels and, None of the verses below refute any of the. As I hear, I judge and My judgment is righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. Lots of non-Jews lived there. And was the Master doing the right thing sacrificing someone elses pigs. Two thousand pigs together is quiet unimaginable. 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. Deuteronomy 4 and 12 only state that none should add or remove what Moses was commanding, which sounds a little nebulous. WebIt was named after the 10 ( deka) cities ( polis) which were in that area. IV. 4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. Demonic forces seem to be territorial; i.e., they have assigned areas of domain. The demons sent the pigs off the banks of the sea and into the water, where they drowned (Mark 5:1213). For centuries, land wars are a type of a national sport among Middle Eastern nations. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Doesnt Pastor MacArthur know his Bible? 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. The shortest distance between two thoughts. Besides this Biblical evidence that Jesus and the woman were within Israels inheritance, there is also a prophesy that God will settle His People in the future in Gilead (a sizeable part of todays Kingdom of Jordan) and in Lebanon too (Zechariah 10:9-10). For one, Remember that the Law reveals to us the mind and personality of God. He does. He's not only a person extraordinarily under bondage to demonic activity, but he's actually a picture of everyone who is in the thrall of sin. What have You to do with me, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God? If the interpretation from one vague verse contradicts several unambiguous verses, which is wrong? Thats the exodus that Israel needs. When they ask Jesus to leave, he does so without any objection; Jesus ministry will not be imposed on those unwilling to receive it. The thinking behind each chart is contrary to the unity and oneness of God. Just as God defeated Pharaohs army at the Red Sea, so Jesus defeats Satans army in the land of the Gerasenes. It's all Gentile territory, so just bear that in mind. Ruins of the temple of Artemis, some columns still standing, are on another hillside above the ruins. The apostle had been busy preaching in Demetriuss hometown of Ephesus and Pauls message about the one true God was catching on. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jesus was wise to use what God gives us, for a teachable moment. city in Pal. And do you believe for one minute that God told us to obey something that He knew full-well we couldnt obey? Over the centuries, many scribes spent an enormous amount of time, energy and resources copying them, thereby lending credibility to them. And he was the one who said that the Father doesnt miss the falling of a sparrow. Oops. Show us the only hope of deliverance from those sins and teach us these things from this passage. Without a doubt, both men know God never came up with the line, Third Fact: Not a fickle faithless Father. Incredible. Yes, you read that right. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Pigs, of course, were unclean for the Jews (Lev. The most plausible reason Jesus chose the pigs was because he regarded people as precious and priceless, But are these good pastors on the right track? WebThe 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). Well Ill explain that too, later on. Accessed 4 Mar. Can we really point the finger at him? Such a pat answer to such a serious question is as irritating as it is ridiculous. Even so, the Bible never puts the worth of animals on the same level as the worth of human Apparently Gerasa was rebuilt by the Romans before the revolt began, prob. The Son of God mercifully cast thousands of defiling demons out of a lost Jew and purposefully launched the legion killers into two thousand defiling swine. led to the substitute reading Gergesenes, a reading that was suggested by a study of the geography of the area. Many will rush for cover behind the last four Greek words of this verse, despite all of its textual, translation and interpretation problems. Because they cared more about what they had lost than what that man had gained or what they could gain in Jesus themselves. Logically we understand that no person on Earth could say something in strong terms over and over, and then just one day say, Oops, can I retract that? So could or would God Almighty flip flop? This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). The good pastor John MacArthur assumes in his video Dominating Powers, Part 2 (Mark 5:1-20), that Jesus must have been in Gentile territory because, as everyone knows, Jewish men and women dont hang around tombs even if they are demon possessed! No, I've checked my facts, anticipated the arguments, remembered my own arguments from he past, and now Im ready to present my conclusions for Christians to consider. That is the exact opposite of other godly men (compare with 1 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:24). He is the freest man in the world. But today, if you said to anybody, Tiger Woods is a slave to his desires, they would recognize it. 3. . Yet they tried to throw one of their own off a cliff (, Now, if a Jew can be treated so badly by fellow Jews, lets put on our thinking caps and imagine what happens to a Jew walking straight into a big group of Gentiles. He was Jewish and tragically lost. These demons of the Gadarene Demoniac wanted to stay in this territory where worship of Baal was predominant. Do you see how Jesuss Gentiles dont act like Gentiles! God told Jonah that it was not just all the people, but also so much livestock (Jonah 4:11). Gods Law even has two commands that equate domestic livestock with wild animals. He has authored, co-authored, edited, or contributed to numerous books. Anyway, it was the demons that would have decided where, and if, he slept. Thy powers bring loss to us and ours. Search the web and you will find many opinions about why the pigs died. And they are no more capable of liberating themselves than this man was capable of liberating himself from this host of demons. There was a logic in this. Don't they know their Bibles? Owning those defiling animals was illegal and having two thousand head, the farmers were more than flouting the Law that Jesus had not came to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). They had the exact same reaction to Jesus that Bertrand Russell would manifest two thousand years later. Jesus was also a prophet. But are these good pastors on the right track? WebAll three Synoptic Gospels ( Mark 5:120; Luke 8:2639; Matthew 8:2834) mention the swine miracle, although with variations. And opposite to normal flowers, our lovely Scripture-flower will never dry out or wither away (Isaiah 40:8). Look at what he first says when Jesus meets him in verse 28 What do you have to do with me, Jesus? And wild animals are not forget because farmers in the Land of Israel are commanded in Exodus 23:11 to leave parts of their fields for food for wildlife. 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 Yet they tried to throw one of their own off a cliff (Luke 4:29). 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). Swine there because they could eat pork, just not while it is representing a clean sacrifice, which would be representing Jesus as the real sacrifice not yet available until Jesus actually came and died for all of our sins naturally. So many beautiful verses and motivating passages are in Scripture. WebInhabitants of Gadara, known from an alleged miracle of Jesus (Matt. Excavations at the modern Jarash (by the British and American Schools of Oriental Research and Yale University) clearly show that Gerasa was a large and important city already in Jesus time. One moose, two moose. But this is not the full explanation or the main one. In fact, they are, Yet the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke actually report that the towns people many would have been the owners or friends of the pig owners or people who were connected to the trade in the swine were, Also, wouldnt that be a type of sin and another example of how he may not have, All in all, after Jesus had trashed the livelihood of so many, we have to agree that they were, Every place the Master went on his travels it was to minister to a Jew, just as Paul said, To the Jew first (, Answering, he said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. (, As well, every place the Master went on his travels was inside of the, Scripture makes it clear that Ashers tribal land-boundary ended around the coastal city of Tyre (, Besides this Biblical evidence that Jesus and the woman were within Israels inheritance, there is also a prophesy that God will settle His People in the future in Gilead (a sizeable part of todays Kingdom of Jordan) and in, The real-estate on the east side of the lake of Galilee where Jesus met the demons and the swine was also part of Israel-proper. In turn, they would have a vehicle wherewith to stay in their territory. 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. So why were these pig owners on the east side of the lake afraid? As regards the first question, it would appear that that section of the country was chiefly inhabited by pagans in the first century, and Gerasa is at any rate included by Schrer among the Hellenistic cities ("Geschichte," ii. After stilling the storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus lands with his disciples on the eastern shore of the lake. As to the second question, there is no doubt of the illegality, from a ritual point of view, of Jews keeping swine (B. So why pigs? 8). Gods Law even has two commands that equate domestic livestock with wild animals. Gods Everlasting Word is not something evolving or morphing into a strange new unusual thing, like some rose turning into a radish, or a carrot into a carnation. Now Jesus grants this permission. There are echoes of exodus in Marks story, and echoes of Davids battle with Goliath. Other than that my friends, I don't know. Money Maker Software enables you to conduct more efficient analysis in Stock, Commodity, Forex & Comex Markets. Of course not. Flower blossoms wither. Playing with the plain truths of Gods eternal Scriptures means one is playing with fire and such actions will bring unfortunate consequences. So these four miracles show Jesus reaching out to Gentiles, either in Galilee or even in even more Gentile territory across the river. But what are its implications? Saying God reverses a verdict or compromises a promise soils His Name. Are we with a man, liberated, who trusted Jesus, who begged to be with Jesus and sought to be a disciple at His feet? For less than $5/mo. For heavens sake, why cant the good pastor try to explain the incompatibility of our loving Jesus wiping out hundreds of innocent creatures without a punch line? It is a logical thesis based on historic accounts (Josephus, etc) Feel free to challenge this thought or pursue it from another angle. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Jesus' action also shows the importance of human beings relative to animals. And then you see in this passage the change of a heart set free. With these, WebWho were the gerasenes in the bible? Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him. Jesus victory over the devils army results in the man being dressed and in his right mind, a different kind of setting things right with the world and a foretaste of the age to come. He is the strong man who binds Satan and plunders his house. His fellow citizens tried to restrain him in chains a horrible way to treat mental illness, by the way but he always broke free. GotQuestions has three articles alone on the subject: here is their best. I wonder why?). We pray in Jesus' name. Thus, in him, God found a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 and 1 Samuel 16:1). Will the demons come back? In the end, the good pastors assumptions keep us rolling in the aisles. But this view is shocking because it places Gods Son on an equal footing with the unclean spirits and thus flies in the face of the normal presentation of Jesus in the Gospels. Instead of dead Egyptians washing up on the shore, we see dead pigs, an intentional insult to the minions of Satan. In some of your Bibles, it may say Gergesenes or Gadarenes in the parallel passages in the gospels. Food cant affect our salvation, nor disqualify us from being saved.Pork might not be very healthy,but as long as its USDA approved and deemed good by health inspectors from feeder hogs tat eat corn to clean the mess out of them of the last few bowel movements, then you should be good to go. 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. 5 ) They werent real Jews They were JINOs! Good Pastor John MacArthur's funny option, The real Author(s) of the Law and the Commandments. But just a theory. The heart set free from sin by Jesus. The first two are in the Authorized Version. Unsurprisingly in such a place, Jesus finds a man possessed by unclean spirits. (we dont invent stories to let people know Jesus has power over the Tooth Fairy, do we?). 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. Issues are listed below: we are using four Greek words to eliminate entire chapters of Scripture. (Jos. They sort of seek Him out. Jesus enters enemy territory in two ways. Doesn't Jesus Treat Animals as Property? In York, T.; Alexis-Baker, A.; Bekoff, M.; McLaren, B. (. Cute little silver goddess dolls would have sold for the same price as a full-grown boar or sow in those days. 6 ) There were lots of laws they didnt keep. This software has many innovative features and you can trap a Bull or Bear in REAL TIME! He changed the subject. (This sad fact may have something to do with Christians telling Jews to junk the Law which they love and to just believe and receive.) Because in all of Holy Writ, the phrase first appears in Leviticus 11 (Leviticus 11:44) right after God talks about clean/pure meats. So much for sola scriptura. ; Mark v.; Luke viii.) Studying these Scripture passages show us that Jesus only ever walked in the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Israel and Moses. A discussion occurred between Professor Huxley and Mr. Gladstone in "The Nineteenth Century" for 1892 as to the morality of the act, the critical questions being whether (1) Gerasenes were Jews; and (2) if so, was it lawful for them to keep swine? Web(2) Ye know that ye were Gentiles.--Better (according to the weight of MSS. The Matthew account mentions two demon-possessed men, while Mark and Luke only mention one. Luke 1:6 says, [Zachariah and Elisabeth] were both righteous before God, walking in all of the commandments and judgements of the LORD, guiltless. Sound like perfect obedience to me. viii. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 He also makes excursions into Gentile territory, such as when he exorcizes the Gerasene/Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20).
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