Further, the conclusion seems warranted that there was confusion in some MSS of Gerasa with the more likely site for the miracle near Gergesa. If a bunch of little children want a ball to play with and I toss them a grenade, am I off the hook if a kid pulls out the pin? In delivering the man from his bondage, Jesus restored creations promise. If pigs were considered unclean then would the demons not wanted unclean to possess. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. (eds.). He says that the demon expulsions are just unenlightened men of the first century trying to explain illnesses being healed. WebAll three Synoptic Gospels ( Mark 5:120; Luke 8:2639; Matthew 8:2834) mention the swine miracle, although with variations. WebWho do you care more about, people or pigs? Do not add upon it and do not reduce it. All you need to know right now, if youre interested in that I'm happy to talk about it until the cows come home, but all you need to know is each of those places the regions of the Gergesenes, the Gadarenes, and the Gerasenes it's all on the other side of the Lake of Galilee. In a pigs eye. Who were the gerasenes in the bible? Would you not agree that theres a certain permanent feeling about a law like that? This now then is our fifth fact in a nutshell. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. There is no captivity that you can be captive to that is not captive to Jesus Christ for He has ascended on high and led captivity captive and He makes a sport and a spoil of the forces of darkness which are arrayed against God and against heaven. The forum, with a semicircle of columns still standing, was paved with large cut stones. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities north of Israel, and Jesus had been sent to the Jews ( Matthew 15:24 ). (Cf. Please note how John repeats the commands, adding a zinger curse to both. http://archive.ligonduncan.com/mp3/12.13.2009_Dr_J_Ligon_Duncan_The_Man_Jesus_Renamed_Luke_8_26-39.mp3. The normally merciful Messiah destroyed the pigs in accordance with Gods Law about clean and unclean meat. So why pigs? Many year later, Messiah went to Israel as a prophet to get the people of Israel back to his Law. 10:31). Mark and Luke call it Gerasenes and some English versions translate it as Gergesenes. It is all the same place. 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). Why? To top it off, Jesuss farmers see Jesus and see their property floating belly up in the surf, but they dont throw him after them! The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.. It's almost like the demons are inexorably drawn to Jesus. We ask this in Jesus' name. And so they begin crying out, Don't cast us into the abyss.. He also makes excursions into Gentile territory, such as when he exorcizes the Gerasene/Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). WebAll three Synoptic Gospels ( Mark 5:120; Luke 8:2639; Matthew 8:2834) mention the swine miracle, although with variations. 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. 10 ) It was the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Decapolis. Jews don't get the joke either because they don't read the New Testament much given the fact Christians have turned them off of Jesus. Sadly, the rest of the verse is not quoted in GotQuestions best article and preachers rarely preach it, though it reveals more about the true character of the Messiah. Just like in the Garden, when God judged Adam, he didn't strike him directly, but the ground soil instead. 1. They could, at least, admit to the possibility of what has been discussed here and about the other facts. p. 102. Accessed 4 Mar. He was completely in the thrall of sin. In other words, the Roman Catholic Church took four Greek words torn out of mid-sentence and declared them to mean, the end (read, death) of the law [of Moses], although numerous verses declare the fixed, eternal character of Gods Perfect Law. Either way, dispensational charts ultimately commit both acts against the Word of God. Learn a new word every day. GERASA, GERASENES (, ). WebApparently Gerasa was rebuilt by the Romans before the revolt began, prob. You can bet your bottom drachma there is. This was the authentic Messiah that the Jews were waiting for. They were people who knew him. Map of the Decapolis and its Cities - Bible History That is how valuable human life is." Pingback: The Prophet in the Hometown A Pilgrim in Augsburg. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? The bottom line is, I don't know why Jesus did that and neither do you and neither does anyone else. The demons sent the pigs off the banks of the sea and into the water, where they drowned (Mark 5:1213). Peaceable Kingdom Series. Therefore, when it came to sacrifices on it, the menu was even shorter. He was no longer naked and he was no longer babbling and he was no longer living amongst the tombs, but when they came, he was clothed and in his right mind and sitting at the Savior's feet. Anyway, it was the demons that would have decided where, and if, he slept. 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. Coincidentally, three Gentiles showed up for lunch, and the following day, he met a Roman convert when finally Peter figured it out and declared the Lords view of Gentile believers, But God has shown me that I should not call ritually impure or defiling any man (Acts 10:28). These authors were Biblical (Peter, James, Paul, Hebrews, etc) and to a lesser extent, non-biblical (Josephus, Pliny, etc). Webwere the gerasenes gentiles. 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 Perhaps that is his point. Both of our good pastors assume that the people in Gerasene (Gadarene or Gergesene) were Gentiles in Gentile territory, partially because of the pigs, partially because of the demoniacs and partially because it fits their bias. And His promise to make a new promise (covenant) with Israel and with Judah in Jeremiah 31:31-32 does not repeal the first promise (the covenant that Israel broke), it strengthens it. 9 ) They were wild Ferrel hogs feeding near the cliffs. A great deal of the Law applies only to priests (Leviticus 6:3) and to Levites (Numbers 7:9), so how could Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, keep one of those commandments? I would have wanted a herd of swine had I been an Israelite in the desert. 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. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. He was totally dominated by these demonic forces. After this long, careful study, it should be crystal clear that the heartless Bishop of Hippo was mistaken, as were our two good pastors. Why did Jesus mention Tyre and Sidon The book ends on that very point. Im wondering Demonic forces seem to be territorial; i.e., they have assigned areas of domain. The site is identified today with the town of Kersa, or Gersa, just below Wadi es-Samak. New International Version (NIV), Encyclopedia of The Bible Gerasa, Gerasenes. When this passage begins, we have a man who is possessed by demons who had gone about naked, who had lived in the tombs, who was out of his mind, and who did not even know his name. For these reasons, the writers of the gospels gave no explanation and the Twelve asked no question about why Jesus destroyed all the swine. I wonder why?). Wed obey Him. David did the same to a bear that took a sheep. Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? No, the Gentiles are not simply non-Jews. Gentiles are loved by God and redeemed by Jesus. were But it struck me as interesting that Bertrand Russell had the exact same reaction to this miracle that the people of the Gerasenes had. Marks Jesus is a warrior who conquers Gods enemies. And Luke intends this to be a display of an extraordinary case. 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. It was interesting that Palmer had gone out without any announcement but this man knew who he was and he was obviously disturbed that he was there and he began to make threats. Jesus is equating his commandments which can only be the ones in the Law of Moses, because he gave no commandments in the Gospels with his Fathers commandments in the Five Books of Moses. (Please dont hide behind that sensational dispensational chart. He is the dividing line here. I'm the man who Jesus saved by casting out the demons from me.. (For many a time it had seized him. That will give us the perfect answer. If there was a difference, why do they read the Law of Moses but call it the Law of God in Nehemiah 8:8? So these four miracles show Jesus reaching out to Gentiles, either in Galilee or even in even more Gentile territory across the river. That is the exact opposite of other godly men (compare with 1 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:24). Legion probably comes from the fact that Roman legions had four to six thousand men in them and this name, Legion, indicates that he is possessed by a host of demons. This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). The Land of Israel is/was no place for two thousand pigs. 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! The Gospels tell us that Jesus did most of His work among the Jewish people. The apostle had been busy preaching in Demetriuss hometown of Ephesus and Pauls message about the one true God was catching on. Rabbi, begone! Who owned the pigs? Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac Mark Now we see the missing puzzle piece: God had plainly prohibited pork as food, making it clear that holy people should not eat it , Overall, when it comes to any animal being selected for food or for sacrifice, God sees only two types. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. By Your Holy Spirit, show us our need of grace. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 They need to face the cracks in their theologies. Some will respond to my rhetorical question, Why on earth would Jesus come to earth, by giving me the usual pat answer. This mother-baby law actually takes priority over another command which requires all first-born calves and lambs to be offered up to God on His altar (Numbers 18:17; Deuteronomy 15:19.) The textual evidence shows that the MSS preserve three variant spellings of the name in each gospel. Therefore, even though folks from the Bishop of Hippo down to our two good California pastors have tried to persuade us that the Creator has shifted His views on pork, God did not, can not, and will not vary or alter or adjust any word spoken about any decision let alone His views on ham sandwiches. With or without graves? The man howled day and night and cut himself with stones. Dr. Ligon Duncan | December 13, 2009. Years earlier, when the ancient Israelis came to the border of the Promised Land, part of the eastern shore was controlled by the Geshurites (and the Maakathites) but Joshua told Israel to possess their land (Joshua 13:11-13). As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. Echoes of Exodus in the Land of the Gerasenes | Mitchell Lewis During the time of Christ, the ten cities of Decapolis and the surrounding region were inhabited mostly by Gentiles, not Jews, and the area had a strong Greek influence. (. I think so. 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 account occurs in all three Synoptic gospels; in Mark (the shortest gospel) the story is in the longest and most detailed version; Matthew 8.2834 is the shortest, 7). But John is more precise, saying none should add or remove words. Web(2) Ye know that ye were Gentiles.--Better (according to the weight of MSS. They were to teach the Gentiles about Him (Acts 13:4647). Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The demons inhabit the bodies of this herd of pigs and the pigs cast them into the Lake of Galilee. And the good pastor doesnt give any rationale for a slaughter that huge. There he meets a man seized with an unclean spirit (Mark) or with demons (Luke). evidence), Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were, &c. In this and the following verse the Apostle reminds his readers that so far from regarding the marvellous manifestations of the Spirit, such as speaking with tongues and prophesying, as the most wonderful miracles, the Since all of these areas overlap, one may take the references as meaning the same place. It was a region of 10 Greco-Roman cities, a Gentile region. So instead of working or hammering away at the embarrassing elephant in the room, the good pastors spoon out interpretations to us that are not biblical, or dish up corny one-liners, all in the hope that well swallow them or be too busy laughing to connect the dots ourselves. Its odd that dispensationalist preachers dont preach this obvious, permanent truth. The miracles that are recorded here, just like the one that we saw last week, are seen by that small circle of disciples that is following Jesus around. His actions now make sense in this new light. The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 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). He seen himself demon possessed people that had extrodinary powers. You understand that Legion is not his name. People of the same race and same religion but they still wanted to do him some serious pain. get to know the Bible better! Dedicated Online Support through Live Chat & Customer Care contact nos. If I still had some misgivings, Id be man enough to share them here. Only this interpretation explains the farmers restrained reaction over the slaughter of the swine, and their tremendous terror of the Messiah. The prophet Jonah is held up as the merciless messenger of God; not a great title. We pray that he would find liberation in Jesus Christ and see his life and family restored, but my friends, any one of us, any one of us, can be in the same thralldom today. Lets re-examine the event in the light of seven important Scriptural facts. Part of the reason for such a short list is due to the fact that Gods People are special (Exodus 19:5-6) and separate (Deuteronomy 7:6) and unique from others on the earth (1 Peter 2:9). Oops! 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. The jokes are a smoke screen. In the three Synoptic Gospels and John 2:15, Jesus forces all the sellers out of the Temple courts. While foretelling death and doom was often part of a prophets job description, the real task of each true prophet was to be an example to the people and to get everyone on board, or back on board, with the Law of God. 5 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 11:78). Over the centuries, many scribes spent an enormous amount of time, energy and resources copying them, thereby lending credibility to them. Gentile (Pastor Piper was right after all, almost!) That is exactly what is happening here. Does he really believe Mark 5 is Biblical material, To be honest, all the bad humour honestly makes me believe the pastor is being. He does. This verse alone puts an interesting twist on the oft-quoted man was not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath was made for man because originally Scripture makes the point that the Sabbath is for man and mans animals. This, Also, this study shows that Jesuss actions in Mark 5 were on the surface contrary to the deep-rooted Jewish respect for domestic and/or wild animals. He's been set free by Jesus. There's nothing that they can do to restrain His mighty arm. Plus, these additions by John connect back to other passages in interesting ways. Remember that the Law reveals to us the mind and personality of God. What good to us that Thou hast made him whole, since we have lost our swine? Is that not a picture of people that love what they have or what they want more than they love the One who loves their souls? This page from an Orthodox website partially shows how Judaism views their responsibility. In either case, the theological point is not helped by a fictitious story. The Messiah has the same nature and character was the Father, as discussed in the Fourth Fact above. These pastors have, Look at the prophets; they also prove Scripture doesnt change. ), his power over blindness (John 9:32) and even over death, as in the case of a three-days dead Lazarus (John 11:1-44). 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. Derek Thomas was reminding me this morning that Ridderbos, in his famous book, The Coming of the Kingdom, records seventeen different interpretations that he had found of this particular parable. Furthermore, the play-by-play presents no reason to be judged as a parable or an allegory. Jerash 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? Pliny described it as a city of the Decapolis founded after the Rom. 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? 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 (Exodus 22:30; Leviticus 22:27). (. In, David was a good example of what Jesus meant by , Sadly, our two good pastors seem oblivious to the fact that under the Law of Moses, animals have benefits too, and this fact should have bearing on any interpretation of Mark 5.