why were the gerasenes afraid

Rather, they attributed the power of Jesus to Satan (Mark 3:22). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. Asked October 24 2014 Yet, conversely, the known can be just as scaryif not more. Some of the proposed answers to this question are totally unacceptable to an orthodox, evangelical Christian.123 By way of explanation, there are several factors which should be given serious consideration. Jesus did say to count the cost [Luke 14:28-33]. Sometime after the Lord Jesus miraculously calmed the storm, the ship landed, perhaps late in the evening,111 on the other side of the lake in the country of the Gerasenes.112 If, indeed, it was late at night, the scene must have been an eerie one, with the nerves of the disciples already worn thin by the terrifying experience of the storm. Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac - Wikipedia The region and polygon don't match. Five squad cars converged on it. As the servant of Elisha was told, Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). Nor was it the Jewish population of Galilee. They would have to trust Jesus. Such seems to be a similar case with Judas (John 13:1-2). And, it can not be understood properly out of this context. On the other hand, it may be correct to understand that although there were many demons, they had combined as one force to possess this man.119 While Mark records Legions request as one of not being sent out of the country (verse 10), Luke adds a significant explanation by interpreting the meaning behind this request: And they were entreating Him not to command them to depart into the abyss (Luke 8:31). The 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). October 2022 December 2020 To date they have failed to respond in any way. What were the women in Mark 16:8 afraid of? So he got into the boat and left., Luke 8:37, NIV, great fear [KJV] thoroughly frightened [Phillips]gripped with great fear [NASB]. Paul tells us that our struggle is, at bottom, a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12). March 2017 Bill Maher: 'I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level' 0 Responses Then people came to see what it was that had happened. Now they would deal with this One greater than he by doing likewise. especially fn. The scene which Mark presents is deliberately dark. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. February 2017 And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. Such an entreaty can be addressed by them to only God. 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. The religious rulers hated Jesus for exposing their hypocrisy and feared the consequences His actions might have with Rome, but they were not afraid of Jesus as a Person. When addressed, the person was the mouthpiece of the demon (such as Legion, Mark 5:9). When you get a chance, please take the, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. to sign up for our free Water Of The Word newsletter at the top of any page! Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus and his disciples come to the mostly-Gentile region of the Gerasenes, they are met by a man whose life has been destroyed by demonic infestation. Jesus deserves the benefit of the doubt even when we don't have all the facts. May 2021 In any event, they were not Israelites, as indicated by the fact that a herd of swine was being kept nearby, which would have been forbidden by the Mosaic Law, since swine were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8). Was there some sort of unwritten rule that Darrow (or any non-Bellona) was supposed to throw the fight? Into the country of the Gadarenes, or rather, Gera-senes, which is now generally admitted to be the true reading, from Gerasa, Gersa, or Kersa.There was another Gerasa, situated at some distance from the sea, on the borders of Arabia Petraea. On several occasions, when Jesus forgave someone, He specifically said, Go and sin no more. That only works for people who are sick of their sin and want to change. It is in no way certain, however, that the pig raisers were Jews. Fear that you might do something that would embarrass you? Gospel Parallels: The Gerasene Demoniac - READ-SCRIPTURE.COM Women, children and defenceless people all admired Him and felt comfortable in His presence. Significantly, the demons are called unclean spirits (verse 2,9). In the past several weeks, there has come to light the case of a man arrested for various crimes who has several of the symptoms of demon possession, including multiple personalities, even multiple IQs. They were afraid and astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey Him?" . Now appreciate the reaction - another God was messing with their god - and demonstrating authority! The Truth is Jesus is a safe Person Who loves them, values them, wants their best and will never force Himself on them. Those demons were terrified of Him! But having recalled a passage in Ephesians, I realize now that this man is a reminder of the dilemma of every man, woman, and child who have not come to a saving dependence upon the work of Jesus Christ for sinners on the cross. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. July 2017 Why were the people of Gerasene afraid of the presence of Jesus among them? Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Well, it is because atheists, in their zealous rush to make fun of Christians, Christianity, and the Bible, start to lose their logical rigor and rationality, leading them to contend for implausible things: as presently. Jesus heals the Gerasene demoniac in Luke 8 | Psephizo and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. So he got into the boat and left. In addition, Matthew includes the comment, Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Mark 5:16 says the thoughts of the people were on the swine. T. H. Huxley, in his Essays upon some Controverted Questions (1892), made merry over the escapade of the Gadarene swine, running the seven miles between Gadar and the lake of Galilee, crossing the deep river Yarmuk en route. Just imagine, a man in a cinema, having bought popcorn and cola and watching an action movie, with a lot of violence and harsh language in it, and then he sees suddenly that a saintly bishop is sitting just next to his seat, not watching the movie, but reading silently psalms with a countenance radiating a deep contemplation; will not the first man be upset and lose all pleasure of watching the movie? "And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a bo." Earles comments are helpful: The difference in names for the destination on the east side of the take has caused considerable comment. The man, who was naked when he saw Jesus, had the added ability of enduring both freezing and sweltering temperatures as well as pain he inflicted upon himself! The country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes) is one of the few areas Jesus visited where Gentiles (non-Jews) composed the majority of the population. Mark 5:1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. To understand this event, you need consider the incident at Babel, and Deuteronomy. It is something like the behavior and personality change in a man who is totally intoxicated. Demon possession, such as that of the Gerasene demoniac is the crudest and cruelest form of Satanic control, but by and large also one of the less common manifestations of Satans work in the world today. We owe it to Josephus, from whom it has passed into ecclesiastical language. And when the man spoke to Jesus, it looks like the demons inside the man were the ones doing the speaking. The Gadarenes' Rejection | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at This man demonstrated all four characteristics. Lane, Mark, p. 182, fn. Oh Hye-son recently published a Korean-language memoir on how she and her husband Thae Yong-ho, then deputy ambassador at North Korea's London embassy, defected in 2016. Chapati Movement 1857: Why were the British afraid of the Roti? Satans most effective tool is not the demoniac wandering about the desolate places. Although God's word does not name which cities were considered part of this region, Pliny's Natural History (c. 77 A.D.) lists these cities as Gerasa, Scythopolis, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia, Capitolias (Dion), Canatha, Raphana and Damascus. Why would the Gerasene people beg Jesus to leave their region after He cast the demons into the pigs? August 2018 Perhaps they clenched their fists or picked up driftwood with which to defend themselves. He was Someone Who could control the spirit realm. The conduct of this pathetic individual was obviously anti-social. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. Instead, they reject Him because all they know is His power and purity. June 2016 March 2022 That would be a strong message, by allowing them to be possessed and then drowned. The lesson of this passage is that Satan is a defeated foe. The pig shepherds had gone and spread the news of what had happened all around. Bill Maher says he's scared of former President Trump "on a very personal level" and "what he would do" to the comedian if he were to win the 2024 White House race. Jesus showed to the local population the inferiority of pagan life. When the townspeople arrived on the scene, they saw the formerly demon-possessed men, clothed, in their right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus. ), you also need to understand the significance of this - to the people in Gerasene. Mark 3:14). Once a menace to society, now a messenger with words of deliverance and healing. Lets face it, we all like to be in control. Who was afraid of Jesus and why? Why is Darrow's victory in the Passage taken so personally? In Acts 8:1 we have the regions of Judaea and Samaria (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. December 2021 Exercising authority in the land allocated to Abraham, for Israel, the land set aside for God and his people. The region was not poor or economically depressed. Jesus had just performed an incredible miracleand one they desperately needed, at that! By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. Will they be condemned like unclean animals? Life with him would be heaven on earth. 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