https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exorcism_of_the_Gerasene_demoniac&oldid=1143355181, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from March 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 07:06. Lucius Annius, at the instance of Vespasian, sacked and burned the city, with much slaughter (BJ, IV, ix, 1). To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. It should also be observed that nowhere in the Old Testament (except in I Sam. The story shows Jesus exorcising a demon or demons out of a man and into a herd of swine, causing the swine to run down a hill into a lake and drown . especially fn. May I open all that I am to you, boldly trusting you. In the Gospel of Mark, why does Jesus heal this blind man twice? Although the manifestations of demonization vary widely, this man 115 evidenced several of the classic symptoms. 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. And, lastly, this would allow sufficient time for those miracles which took place on that second day in Capernaum after His return thither. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. At times, my honest prayer might be: Lord, yes, do in me the things I want you to do. The miracle of Gerasa reverses the universal schema of violence fundamental to all societies of the world. He calls the inhabitants Syrians, when, at the beginning of the Jewish revolt, the district round Gerasa was laid waste. The choice is to be free by submission to Christ (cf. One man: Mark 5:1-2, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the . First of all, the EPA would have been investigating the pollution of Lake Galilee with decaying pigs. Jesus was saying, (demonstrating) that He had all authority, in any land. This town is not to be confused with either Gerasa or Gadara. The stamp of a ship on Gadarene coins suggests that the region called Gadara probably extended to Galilee (McGarvey, n.d., p. 344; McClintock and Strong, 1969, 3: 706). I will not look for a reason to return to it. Pigs were seen as unclean animals in the eyes of the people of Israel. 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. And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. Finally, there is in demon possession a counterpart to the filling (or control) of the Holy Spirit. The typical explanation for the petition of the residents that Christ leave their country is that they were motivated by materialistic considerations. Can devils entreat in such a manner any highest of angels, be he Michael, Gabriel or Raphael, or any greatest cherub or seraph? Why do you think they were unwilling to engage with him? ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Sunday, April 23, 2023 Tell us where you're. 16, x. Holiness hurts! Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. The Greek word commonly accepted in Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26 as the basis for the name of the people who inhabited the place where Jesus and the disciples went is rendered Gerasenes in English (Metzger, 1975, pp. A small crowd of people was approaching, with the pig herdsmen leading the way. 9. The spectrum ranges from those who seem to control the demonic powers to those who are utterly controlled by them. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. I have always wondered what my Christian brothers had to say to the police officers by way of explanation. This is probably the Gerasa of Mark and Luke. This was a federation of ten cities (deka = ten, polis = city). More than this, however, is the fact that the mans own identity and individuality were swallowed up by the demons with him. 4, p. 180. The expression to be with Jesus is used particularly of His disciples (cf. Jesus approaches and calls the demon to come out of the man, who replies "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Contrasting the self-destruction of the herd of pigs with the typical motif of an individual evil-doer being pushed over a cliff by an undifferentiated mob (cf. xvi. The story of Jesus casting out the demons from a human and into a herd of swine is well-known, but where it happened, and what it means, are more contentious questions and deserve fuller analysis and discussion. 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. In retaliation for the massacre of the Jews at Caesarea, the Jews sent several raiding parties into the Gentile cities of the Decapolis. Also, the wholesale slaughter of these pigs dramatically illustrated the destructive purposes of the demons. Barnes, Albert (1949), Notes on the New Testament: Matthew and Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker). This describes the district in which Christ met and healed the demoniac from the tombs, where also took place the destruction of the swine. Over his son GAD he said: "Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last." Now WHERE in the New Testament do you remember hearing about something like a 'troop'? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Jesus is conscious that He now breaks the power of the devil and his angels because He is the One in whom the dominion of God is present on behalf of humanity. W. Foerster, as quoted by Lane, Mark, fn. 23, 24, viii. Those who have witnessed demon possession tell us that each demon has its own distinct personality and that the individual possessed begins to manifest the distinct personality of the demon by which he is possessed. The drowning of these pigs has caused a great deal of discussion amongst Bible students, for as a friend of mine once observed, Thats a lot of pork chops! Had our Lord achieved such a miracle today He would have been in deep trouble. Mention is made of the strength of the site and the mighty masonry of its walls. We do not know why they chose to mention only one. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 16K views, 545 likes, 471 loves, 3K comments, 251 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. xvii. [3] However, other commentators have attempted to make the story consistent with a Jesus who shows "care and concern for animals," as John Austin Baker wrote. Here is where Satan can use a man to influence scores of people, blinding minds and hearts to the truths of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). 8ff.). But the distance is so short that, even making allowance for the delay by the tempest, the passage could scarcely have occupied the whole night. [14][3] Such alternative readings include arguments that the swine were meant to represent the Roman army or "unclean and unfaithful" people because pigs were considered "unclean" for the Jews in this image, and the loss of these animals was not dangerous. DEUT 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God. Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man. 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. Other textual variations include "Gadarenes" and "Gergesenes". It is a fascinating by Matt Slick | Apr 4, 2023 | Genesis - Deuteronomy, Bible Difficulties. A word of clarification is in order here for we must recognize that in this account the dark side of Satan is exposed, but this is perhaps the more unusual side of Satan. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. It was a leading city of Syria in commerce, culture, and religion. No other place on the E side of the sea fits this requirement of the story. Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Heal me, Lord, but let me remain the lord of at least part of my life. Thus, the story in Luke 8:26-39 challenges me to consider how open I really am to the Lord. In all his tormented years, he had never felt anything like the terror that coursed through him when he saw Jesus get out of the boat. There probably were not many who had been told yet of the Messiah, and so were not yet believers. My office mate of several years back was interrupted by a young and very zealous new Christian teacher accompanied by a student from whom she wanted my friend to cast out a demon. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. By your Spirit, help me to welcome you into my life, all of you. Thank you for all of the ways you have delivered meand still are delivering me. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. Vote Up [15] In his analysis, the opposition of the entire city to the one man possessed by demons is the typical template for a scapegoat. I have never actually begged Jesus to go away and leave me alone. conquest of Syria in 65 b.c. The longest and nearly detailed account of Jesus and the Gadarene swine is plant in the . [citation needed]. 14ff. They greatly desire to enter and control a physical body, whereby they may reflect their character and attributes. Matt 10:5-6; 15:24). 84,145). It is Geldenhuys who gives us the most concise description of demon-possession: in the New Testament demon-possession means that a person is dominated by the spirit of a demon and tormented by him. 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. Immediately, as this weary group disembarked from the ship, they were met by what appeared to be a madman. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore . The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. The reply Legion118 may be some kind of evasion, a reluctance on the part of the demons to individually identify themselves. Normal relationships are reversed. ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. in 1971. The triumphal arch to the South of the city is almost entire. I'll follow you anywhere! With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Yet, on a deeper level, they we afraid of how Jesus might impact their lives. 1), and apparently occupied these cities with Jewish patriots. Do not be afraid. [13] Saint Augustine of Hippo concluded from the story that Christians have no duties towards animals,[2] writing: Christ himself shows that to refrain from the killing of animals and the destroying of plants is the height of superstition, for judging that there are no common rights between us and the beasts and trees, he sent the devils into a herd of swine and with a curse withered the tree on which he found no fruit. (BJ, I, iv, 8). The price tag of possession was high, for those who fell victim to the demons agonized in constant torment. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Two paved streets with double colonnades cut through the city at right angles, four massive pedestals still marking the point of intersection. In this light, Matthew identified the exorcism with the local center of power, Gadara, located about ten kilometres southeast of Sea of Galilee, whereas Mark identified the event with the regional center of power, Gerasa, located further inland. Ruins of the temple of Artemis, some columns still standing, are on another hillside above the ruins. Those possessed are depicted throughout as unfortunate sufferers who by no fault of their own are dominated by evil spirits and who, when the spirits are cast out by Jesus, accept their deliverance with joy and gratitude (Mark v. 18-20, Luke viii. While he was once wild and uncontrollable, he was sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. And now here was someone even more powerful. 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. NE side Sea of Galilee; Gennesaret. The man looked out on the Tiberius. It shows that the writers had not agreed to impose on the world; for if they had, they would have mentioned the same city; and it shows, also, they were familiar with the country. To the Other Side: Construction of Evil and Fear of Liberation in Mark 5.120., 164165. Gerasa is identified from various sources as a city in Arabia, Decapolis, Gilead, or Perea. He had only known Jesus for a few hours, but had already determined to be Jesus' disciple for life. Obviously the writer, Luke, is intending to write a history of Jesus Christ that proves that He . Gerasa, one of the cities of Decapolis and the capital of the country of the Gerasenes, lay around 37 miles/60 kilometres away from the Sea of Galilee in what is today the city of Jerash in Jordan.3The country of the Gerasenes did not reach the Sea of Galilee (an important point that we'll get to in a bit). The before and after descriptions of the demoniac reveal that he was a totally different person under demonic influence. That is why he was living in the solitude of the tombs, away from civilization. It is clear that Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not contradict each otherin fact, they complemented each other. It was, in fact, his demons that had recognized Jesus. 6:30-44. 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. This describes the district in which Christ met and healed the . The NT references (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26; cf. How much more sinful than Peter were the Geraseneans, who because of love of money did not shun even to engage in a non-Jew business of herding swine; how much more unbearable and dreadful must have been for them the Lords presence! He pleaded with Jesus not to be tormented. When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). 1, pp. ger'-a-sa, ger'-a-senz (Gerasa; Gerasenon): 1. Son of God was their term. Peace, like the quiet sea. The Synoptic Gospels record one episode of Jesus calming a violent storm: "Then [Jesus] got into the boat and his disciples followed him. In Galilee and Judea there were Messianic hopes which would have been quickly fanned into flames if the miracles of Jesus were too widely publicized. If total energies differ across different software, how do I decide which software to use? Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. Spam, July 19 2021 But the city of Gadara owned some territory round about Khersa, so that the district and the pigs could properly also be called Gadarene. F. F. Bruce, Are the New Testament Documents Reliable? The differing geographical references to Gadara and Gerasa can be understood in light of the social, economic, and political influence each city exerted over the region. 14. Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). I know that your will for me leads to the most full and fruitful life. These forces plundered Gerasa, Philadelphia, Pella, and others (Jos. (1995), New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Nelson). The exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac (Matthew 8.28-34; Mark 5.1-20; Luke 8.26-39), frequently known as the Miracle of the (Gadarene) Swine and the exorcism of Legion, is one of the miracles performed by Jesus according to the New Testament. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). From this it is clear that demon-possession is a phenomenon which occurred almost exclusively, but then to be sure on an amazing scale, during Jesus appearance on earth and to a lesser extent during the activity of the apostles. Like the Samaritans who followed the woman at the well to see this One who had told her all she had done, so these residents came to see for themselves what had happened. As a herdsman recounted what happened, they kept looking at him and then to Jesus. I will not ask him to leave. He shivered at the disturbing memory. The pleas of Legion were in response to the command of Jesus for the demons to come out of him (verse 8). Here in Mark, he purposely set out to travel into another land. Hence there was demon-worship, the worship not necessarily of evil spirits; but of the spirits of those who had existed in the Golden Age. G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to Mark (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1927), p. 114. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were writing of the same general area. He could just as easily commanded them to return to the deepest, darkest pit of Hell. Their answer is: 'No, we do not want to stone you because we want to keep you near us. It appears that is because the CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. Others are absolutely controlled (hooked) by the drug and totally dependent upon it. Used with Permission. The Greek word in Matthew 8:28, however, reveals that Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes (p. 23). Textual variations have compounded the problem. He himself earnestly desired to stay with Jesus, knowing that Jesus had saved him an otherwise completely hopeless and unremediable condition. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Why did Jesus not allow demons to proclaim his name, Archaeological or Historical Support for the Gerasene Pigs. 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 inhabitants of the city. xviii. (no date), The Fourfold Gospel (Cincinnati, OH: Standard). Spam, November 04 2019 When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 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. The city was large and well planned. 4. The words "return to your home" must have made this man's heart sink. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. [9], The revealing of the demon's name has parallels with other examples in Jewish exorcism lore in the Second Temple period. The healing of the demoniacs and the repulse of the Healer by the inhabitants are historical, but the incident of the swine is a later figment. The thought of returning there conjures up fears of our old demons and the people who knew us as we were back then. Origen (Commentary on John 6:24 41 [on John 1:28]) cited a local tradition that there had been a town called "Gergasa" on the lake shore.[7]. 117 so that, by their own confession, a time is coming when there shall be an entire victory of the kingdom of light over that of darkness (Rev. AMP - In this immediate area, steep hills come down to the shoreline and fit the story of the swine rushing headlong into the sea. The Greek word commonly accepted in Mark 5:1 and Luke 8:26 as the basis for the name of the people who inhabited the place where Jesus and the disciples went is rendered Gerasenes in English (Metzger, 1975, pp. They had dealt with Legion (I suspect) by forcing him from their presence. The demonically possessed man who came to Jesus cried out his name was Legion. Ptolemy says Gerasa was a city in Coele-Syria, thirty-five travel m. from Pella. Now he knew better. In both the accounts of Mark and Luke, the primary motivation is described as that of fear. Luke 8:26-38 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (). But, the pigs were a part of their economic wealth. Before the war it was a Gentile settlement. If it is a feminine spirit, the voice will be a feminine one, if masculine then very manly. It's not them. The drowning of the swine was an accident, possibly simultaneous with the healing, and report mixed up the two incidents. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. He recognized most of them. It was the terror of the damned. There was no such danger in Perea, and thus the mercy of the Lord was to be heralded. The presence of holiness and, moreover, the most intense divine holiness is undesirable; I mean, unless you are an angel or a saintly recluse in his ascetic toils in a cave or a top of a pillar. How Satan blinds our minds! We are not by Matt Slick | Apr 6, 2023 | Bible Studies. Their mitigated violence is an ineffective protest. We greatly appreciate your consideration! Thats why also Peter having realized who Christ was, was dreaded and asked Him to leave him for he said to be a sinful man (Luke 5:8). But Jesus was sleeping. It was a hard call to return to the place where he had known demons, chains, tombs, self-mutilation, public humiliation, abuse, loneliness, and suicidal torment. War III. If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected], by Matt Slick | Apr 13, 2023 | Bible Studies. This supposition would be further confirmed, if the evening when Jesus embarked was what the Jews were wont to call the first evening, that is, the time when the sun was declining in the heaven, but before it had actually set, the latter time being the second evening. For it seems most unlikely that multitudes would have resorted to Jesus at Capernaum after the second evening, or that either the disciples or other boats would have put to sea after nightfall. For those who are shaken like leaves in the wind at the mention of demons, let us remember from this story that demons cannot even possess pigs without prior permission from our Lord. The man is grateful. 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. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but . On Girard's account, then, the uneasy truce that the Gaderenes and the demoniac had worked out was that the evil power in him was contained and thereby neutralized. The Madman. When Jesus asked his name the man answered, Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9). Did they cease to exist? Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? No! The tomb-man had beaten off much larger men in his demonic rages. P.S. Neither is it only a kind of physical disease, although spiritual and physical disease often accompany it (e.g. 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. A few men went on to survey the dead floating herd. Whatever witchcraft Jesus possessed, they wanted it far away from them. The commission of our Lord is considerably different from His instructions to the Israelites whom He had delivered. May I never send you away from me, even in small things. What was it that they saw? [10], It has been widely accepted by scholars that several motifs throughout the account refer to the Roman legion. In other words, Jesus had caused a loss to them of 2,000 swine already; what else would His presence cost? Proof of their awareness of their own contradiction lies in the fact that the chains are never strong enough to convince their victim of their good intentions toward him."[15]. 1). 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. 5 1-5 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. 6:1-13. If Mark or Luke said that only one demoniac came to Jesus while Matthew says that two came out, that would be a contradiction. (1946), The Interpretation of St. Marks Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg). The possessed pigs plunged down a hillside into the lake, where they drowned. It only takes a minute to sign up. The story appears in the three Synoptic Gospels, but not the Gospel of John. 22, xvii. At this distance from the Sea of Galilee, Gerasa could not have been the site of the healing of Legion. It is doubtful that Jesus ever visited it. They were instructed to keep quiet about what Jesus had done for them (cf. These ruins date from the 2nd to the 7th centuries and show that the city flourished during this period as a center for religion, culture, and commerce. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. From this disaster it appears soon to have recovered, and the period of its greatest prosperity lay, probably, in the 2nd and 3nd centuries of our era. ii. It was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and must have been a locality where the steep edges of the Bashan plateau drop close upon the brink of the lake. An inscr. The people (nations) were divided up, and boundaries allocated' and the sons of god were put over these nations. Metzger, Bruce M. (1975 corrected edition), A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (New York, NY: United Bible Societies). Vector Projections/Dot Product properties. 5:5). But, the context is not going to be comfortable (accepted by) to some traditional understandings. 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. Apparently Gerasa was rebuilt by the Romans before the revolt began, prob. Mark 9:17-29). New International Version (NIV), Encyclopedia of The Bible Gerasa, Gerasenes. Did the scribes realize that God gave Jesus the authority in Mark 11:33? All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. They were sacrificed by being thrown off a cliff. 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