The Bible doesnt say. Now I must say that that really boggles my mind because Luke's main point is so crystal clear and it's set in the context of three other stories that are crystal clear. II. In retaliation for the massacre of the Jews at Caesarea, the Jews sent several raiding parties into the Gentile cities of the Decapolis. This picking and choosing is completely unbiblical. Are we with a man, liberated, who trusted Jesus, who begged to be with Jesus and sought to be a disciple at His feet? Josephus mentions it with Pella and Golan as being taken by storm during Alexander Jannaeus campaign E of the Jordan in about 83 b.c. Christ's primary focus was on "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. In turn, they would have a vehicle wherewith to stay in their territory. But there is a message in this for all of us and it is simply this we may not be possessed by demons, but if we are possessed by what we want or by what we have and if what we want or what we have is not God in the Gospel of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, then we are no less in the thrall of sin that this man. This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Some of Jesus's reputation for being normally meek and merciful comes from statements like: 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. He also wrote the poem Greatheart. Gadara). The other part of the eastern shoreline was controlled by Og, king of Bashan, but it and sixty walled cities were taken from them by Moses and given to the tribes of Israel (Deuteronomy 3:1-7, 16; compare with 1 Kings 4:13). 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. Lets use his recording to the event as our jumping off point: Every Bible passage is either a historical narrative piece (such as the one we just read), a legal and/or procedural document (the majority of the Five Books of Moses), or it is a poetic passage (like Psalms, Proverbs and much of the Prophets). David did the same to a bear that took a sheep. 2023. The Jewish Messiah rid himself of two defiling groups in one blow. What do you want? They had rather have their swine than their Saviour, and so, though they saw the demoniac sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, they in turn beseech that He should take Himself away. there was never a prophecy that the kosher laws would be removed, so the verse is coming completely from left field. He changed the subject. In a recent online essay on the Gospel of Mark, Peter Leithart wrote. Those famous four are sufficient to back up the Church's bias and with them one could pretend they say, Christ is the [dead] end of the Law [of Moses] (Luther and Calvin taught this), or maybe it means something very vague like, an end of a law is Christ. For a more advanced discussion of the vague quality of the text have a look at George Howards scholarly article. WebThe Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 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. Sproul also agrees with this preference of people over pigs when he writes, a man is worth more than 2,000 pigs.. After all, racism wasnt invented in the 21st century. 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. I am but a man possessed by an innumerable host of demons. being the eternal Son of God. Notice how Gods, Plus, when Jesus chased the sellers out of the Temple courts (. ]. It was a region of 10 Greco-Roman cities, a Gentile region. If you have your Bibles I'd invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 8 and this great story of the man who was possessed by demons, liberated by the Lord Jesus Christ. The story of the Gerasene demoniac thereby foreshadows the mission to the Gentiles that would begin in full force with the conversion of the Apostle Paul and Peter's ministry to Cornelius (Acts 910). Even city officials who were Pauls friends were scared for Pauls life (Acts 19:31). But Jesus still ministered to them: crowds from Tyre and Sidon came to see and listen to Him ( Mark 3:78 ). WebWho were the gerasenes in the bible? Gentile The two Johns see more than a hint of what I am talking about in the destruction of the swine and it frightens them so they avoid a serious discussion. Them there pigs were trying to hog Jesus limelight! Gerasa is identified from various sources as a city in Arabia, Decapolis, Gilead, or Perea. ESV - 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. But Christians miss the joke and think he was being serious. And what does the Law say about pigs? Not by will, but because they have no choice other than to do as the Administrator of all creation commands them. All of these commandments and more are still taken literally by many Jews today. 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). They have therefore made important decisions about the proper treatment of animals. One unambiguous (but hotly debated) verse that supports this doctrine is, 1 John 5:7: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. So if we agree Messiah is part of the Godhead, then logically we agree Messiah also co-authored, with the Father, the Law of God. 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. What about sheep? James Gibson. 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. As well, every place the Master went on his travels was inside of the Land of Israel; he never went to Gentile territory. 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! Matthew 12:43 and Luke 11:24 mention demons going to a dry place. And what about just sending the killers into the air (Ephesians 2:2)? Pig meat, according to Scripture, is as, Suddenly, Mark 5 is clear. We gotta git us some!, 1 ) [your turn. Every creature on land, or in the water, or in the air is classified by either the Hebrew term, (tahor), meaning ritually clean/pure, or by the term, (tameh), unclean/defiling. Remember, Jesus took direct, extensive action against a significant group of Gentile pig farmers he didnt just say something bad against the pigs. Answer: the impurity of the swine. Do you remember when a serpent, an animal, came and exercised authority over God's man and woman, Adam and Eve, who had been made in His image so that instead of them ruling over the animals, the animals ruled over them? So these four miracles show Jesus reaching out to Gentiles, either in Galilee or even in even more Gentile territory across the river. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.". 10 ) It was the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Decapolis. 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 However, the silversmith was a smart cookie and knew that the more people bought into Pauls line of thinking, Note: Demetrius was angry only because of, Therefore, were those cool-headed pig-farmers really Gentiles? he has the power and the authority to ameliorate both. when hes rolling around with a thousand killer-demons inside. Gerasa was rebuilt in splendor and remained prosperous for several centuries. View our current career opportunities. Why should this surprise us? Instead of recklessly freeing the doves into the air (as erroneously shown in The Jesus Film and other Bible movies), Scripture records with precise detail that Jesus only knocked over the chairs of the pigeon owners, and/or told them to take their feathered property and leave (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:16) he didnt use his whip on the birds or fling them into the air to be attacked by falcons or eagles. The fact anyone dreamed up dispensationalism, They say, None, but Jesus, kept the Law perfectly. At the very end of his book The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Apostle John repeats them. 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. He's liberated. The Gadarenes Rejection | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals Note: Demetrius was angry only because of speculation of what Pauls preaching might do to business Paul had not physically caused any damage. What do you have that youre captive to, that youre enslaved to? Besides, it was Christmas! Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! His soul, what care we for his soul? When He speaks, they obey. Definition of Gadarenes (Gergesenes) in the Bible - Bible For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. In fact, they are afraid of him and beg him to leave. were the gerasenes The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Demetrius had to do something with the Jew or go bust. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of any other person, religious organization or governmental entity. Most translations interpret the Hebrew to say, Canaanite, but both are more than possible and perhaps the double meaning was intended by the prophet. Now what happens in this passage? (Only an amateur Hebraist would claim the latter, frankly.). (, For I tell you truly, until the passing away of Heaven and the Earth, not the smallest letter nor the smallest comma will pass away from the Law until everything has happened. Its odd that dispensationalist preachers dont preach this obvious, permanent truth. 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). 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! It seems to happen a lot in the gospels. 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? So why pigs? Gadarene Swine But the Almighty said it so many times. 5 ) They werent real Jews They were JINOs! If you watch the short clip (above) and compare it to the one hour source video Dominating Powers, Part 2 (Mark 5:1-20) you will notice how MacArthurs speaking style changes as soon as he addresses the matter of the pigs. And did the Gospels writers believe the explanation was so obvious they didn't need to write one? He showed mercy to the men who were possessed and brought judgement on the pig farmers. Was it correct to destroy so many for just one (or two men). Perhaps a tenth, or a quarter, or a half of the 613 commandments were fulfilled by Jesus, but not all. Well let's pray before we read God's Word together. Many of you have seen, maybe fewer of you have read, a book by the famous British philosopher and skeptic, Bertrand Russell. 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. Last week, we were crossing over with Jesus to the other side, weathering a fierce storm until he woke up and calmed the sea. Some will respond to my rhetorical question, Why on earth would Jesus come to earth, by giving me the usual pat answer, None can keep the nasty old Law, so Jesus came to fulfill it perfectly, and now I dont have to do anything, at all, whatsoever, just believe, hallelujah! However, it is anticipated that the following verses will be thrown up as excuses, as pat answers, and as proof that God has changed, the Law is fulfilled (a.k.a. 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. Money Maker Software may be used on two systems alternately on 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or more subscriptions. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the rabbis today dont see the even stronger connection between Genesis 3:3 and Revelation 22:18, because Jews dont read the New Testament all that much. .hide-if-no-js { Does he really believe Mark 5 is Biblical material just for laughs? Many of the events are corroborated by other authors. So why were these pig owners on the east side of the lake afraid? 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. Very interesting. Also, the land where the Master walked and the swine were feeding belonged to Israel. Its flesh you must not eat. As for Matthew, he quoted Jesus as commanding the demons, and used the plural form of the verb, go. 1), and apparently occupied these cities with Jewish patriots. Gergesa (). 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. Any other conclusion, in light of the seven facts just presented, is breathtakingly irresponsible, and we should just laugh it off. The next allusion to Gerasa concerns its capture during Vespasians campaign. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 You understand that Legion is not his name. She needs someone strong enough to cast a legion of demons into the sea, like Pharaoh and his hosts. Where He goes, they show up and they say things to Him. To any Jew, Jesuss actions were crystal clear. I want you to see a person in the thrall of sin. Scripture presents us with all we need to know. Are you seeing this? And Luke intends this to be a display of an extraordinary case. why do you think there were pigs there?]. The most plausible reason Jesus chose the pigs was because he regarded people as precious and priceless, but not swine. Am I forgiven by saying, I just, The Land of Israel is/was no place for two thousand pigs. For the sake of the argument, lets start by assuming that the pastors assumption is right and he is a Gentile (though we know he could have been Jewish). For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town. Gods Law even has two commands that equate domestic livestock with wild animals. The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. Go be a witness to Me as My disciple.. To all of you who have been liberated from the captivity of your sin by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, receive God's blessing. Reading the whole account in Acts 19:23 to 41, we see that it was not hard for the sore silversmith to drum up anti-Jewish anger in the crowd that day. Both Gerasa and Gadara were cities to the east of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. Bibliography W. A. Thomson, The Land and the Book (1882), 333-338, 353, 359; C. H. Kraeling, Gerasa, City of the Decapolis (1938); The Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1946), 64, 117; M. F. Unger, Archaeology and the NT (1962), 139-141; E. Lohmeyer, Das Evangelium des Markus (1963), 93f; C. F. Pfeiffer, The Biblical World (1966), 252-254. Perhaps that is his point. 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. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him and said with a loud voice, What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? As to the second question, there is no doubt of the illegality, from a ritual point of view, of Jews keeping swine (B. 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). The forum, with a semicircle of columns still standing, was paved with large cut stones. We use cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Lastly, based on culture, human-nature and most importantly, on specific Scripture passages, we know the demoniac could not have been a Gentile but was most assuredly, Yet a complete interpretation of Mark 5 needs to clear up one last point: the pigs were forbidden but did they, Christ kept kosher and cleaned up the town, I can of Myself do nothing. It is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. To be honest, all the bad humour honestly makes me believe the pastor is being dishonest. But just a theory. He knew how bad it was going to go for the pigs. "It became one of the proudest cities of Syria." III. What was the country of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes) and why 10:31). 11:78). Matt 8:28). We should ask the good pastors if love thy neighbour as thyself has any bearing on killing your neighbours livestock. The pagan religions continued among the Gentile population as is evidenced by the ruins of the temple of Artemis. Lots of non-Jews lived there. 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? 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. WebWhy were there pigs in gerasenes? Sinai. ___________________________________________________________________. The History of Rome - Brief Overview Of Roman History from Her Dawn to the First Punic War. And he was the one who said that the Father doesnt miss the , Everyone's wondering why the pigs got the raw end of the deal. Web(2) Ye know that ye were Gentiles.--Better (according to the weight of MSS.
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