What about sheep? Because God is so steady, and doesnt reverse or repeal, He can be trusted to do what He promises; good or evil. People of the same race and same religion but they still wanted to do him some serious pain. One day the prophet Samuel angrily told his king that God would not go back on His decision.
. WebWhy were there pigs in gerasenes? 3
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. And why werent they demanding compensation for their pigs? 3). Notice how Gods care is cleverly contrasted with mans callousness: men buy birds for next to nothing because they do not value them, yet The Almighty as large and in charge as He is still takes careful notice of frail creatures. were Now that's interesting isn't it? Throughout the book, the author uses direct quotes, various and mostly verifiable place names and clear descriptions of mostly plausible actions. Most translations interpret the Hebrew to say. I wonder why?). Jerash We said the last time that we were together that in Luke 8 you begin four miracle stories, all of which either happen in Galilee or in Gentile lands. Those outside of the nation of Israel were considered gentiles. We said the last time that we were together that in Luke 8 you begin four miracle stories, all of which either happen in Galilee or in Gentile lands. When He speaks, they obey. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. Additionally, it would have been foolish for the Apostles to claim hundreds and thousands of witnesses (1 Cor 15:1-6). Playing with the plain truths of Gods eternal Scriptures means one is playing with fire and such actions will bring unfortunate consequences. Does he really believe Mark 5 is Biblical material, To be honest, all the bad humour honestly makes me believe the pastor is being. 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. (, Field hay dries. Sproul writes in his commentary Mark that the compassion of Jesus "drove Him to destroy the pigs for the sake of one human life. There's nothing that they can do to restrain His mighty arm. Why should this surprise us? Instead of Jesus turning water into wine. One possible reason the Son of David chose the pigs was that he had no choice. Many year later, Messiah went to Israel as a prophet to get the people of Israel back to his Law. For one, Remember that the Law reveals to us the mind and personality of God. These three verse from John really are earth-shattering. 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? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. As to the second question, there is no doubt of the illegality, from a ritual point of view, of Jews keeping swine (B. Deuteronomy 4 and 12 only state that none should add or remove what Moses was commanding, which sounds a little nebulous. Take the first chapter of Genesis for example; ones interpretation of it depends on whether one thinks its a historical retelling of creation, or just a poem. But isnt it a funny coincidence that pork happens to be on Gods list of forbidden food. Demons, Jesus, and the Pigs The Outlaw Bible Student, http://www.linearconcepts.com/archives/2011. This is clearly an extraordinary event. being the holy Messiah of Israel, Jesus wants the swine out of The Land as much as he wants unclean spirits out of The People, and. 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. 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. display: none !important;
The Gemara on the passage gives a historical foundation for the practise in the times of Aristobulus. Israels real enemy is Satan. And what can we take away from the second part of the commandment not to take away from Gods Word? Jesus made him whole. Facts are piling up. The Man Jesus Renamed | Reformed Theological Seminary Either way, dispensational charts ultimately commit both acts against the Word of God. And there's a lesson in each of these things for all of us. 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. Racism: Not a modern invention . You must there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one thats only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary. Thus, we are not surprised that there was "a great herd of pigs" feeding near the tombs where the Gerasene demoniac was living (5:11). GADARENES - JewishEncyclopedia.com Gadarenes - The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia - StudyLight.org As well, every place the Master went on his travels was inside of the Land of Israel; he never went to Gentile territory. Being made in God's image, we are more important to the Lord than any animal. WebGerasa, Gadara or Gergesa (Luke 8;26, 37) As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet Him. This food is unclean and defiling for you. Youll notice at the beginning of the passage that they go across the lake to the east side and that puts them outside the bounds of Galilee and outside the bounds of Israel and over into Gentile territory on the other side. They dont care about about the demon possessed men, they want their pigs back, (My opinion) Jesus was raised with sacrifice so animals were thought of for food, not so much as pets like today. We see the power of Christ over Satan, don't we? Incredible. Unfortunately, Pastor John is not alone, joking at the expense of this tragedy. Most Christians believe Messiah is the Second Person of the Trinity. While foretelling death and doom was often, Fifth Fact: The True Author(s) of Scripture. It's almost like the demons are inexorably drawn to Jesus. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies. 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? It deeply disturbed Bertrand Russell that Jesus allowed a herd of two thousand pigs to be destroyed. The best text in Matthew reads Gadarenes, in Mark and Luke it reads Gerasenes, whereas some MSS preserve Gergesenes and Gergustenes (cf. It's back just a few verses, the answer is back just a few verses. He changed the subject. But as Gergesa was a small village, and little known, the evangelists, who wrote for more distant readers, spoke of the event as taking place in the country of the Gadarenes, so named from its largest city, Gadara; and this country included the country of the Gergesenes as a state includes a county. WebHe calls the inhabitants Syrians, when, at the beginning of the Jewish revolt, the district round Gerasa was laid waste. There are echoes of exodus in Marks story, and echoes of Davids battle with Goliath. I could have come up with better arguments against Christianity than Bertrand Russell, but in the course of this book in one of the chapters, he says it is this story that led him to the conclusion that Jesus was neither the best nor the most virtuous of men. (. Last week, we were crossing over with Jesus to the other side, weathering a fierce storm until he woke up and calmed the sea. The majority admits they are clueless and throw their hands up, stating the herd was just a , The pastors attempts to laugh off the haunting question about the meek and lowly Son of Man killing all the pigs is, Besides the jokes being in poor taste, they make his sermon seem less than professional. Ive heard that the apostles and Christ may have traveled to Spain. David ran after the lion that had grabbed his sheep and with just his staff, and his wits, he forced the lion to drop it. 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. I dont know of any illness that can do that. Also in a side note theres a rock with what looks like a human footprint in it, it is said this is Christs footprint. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged Him to let them enter these. We gotta git us some!, 1 ) [your turn. One day the prophet Samuel angrily told his king that God would not go back on His decision. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes - Smiths Bible Dictionary And were you aware that the New Testament repeats the same two commands from Deuteronomy? The Greeks were believers in the spirit In the three Synoptic Gospels and, None of the verses below refute any of the. The entire herd ran straight off a cliff and drowned. Saying God reverses a verdict or compromises a promise soils His Name. Being teachable is a great avenue for learning! WebGERASA, GERASENES (, ). Peaceable Kingdom Series. Were in the same story. He was completely in the thrall of sin. All Rights Reserved. Oh, you mean THOSE pigs!! Inhabitants of Gadara, known from an alleged miracle of Jesus (Matt. What happened to the demons when the pigs died? Or, what if Paul had knocked two thousand dolls into the drink would he have written as many epistles as he did, while having to dogpaddle? WebThe terrified Gerasenes beseeching Jesus to leave them. What have You to do with me, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God? The apostle had been busy preaching in Demetriuss hometown of Ephesus and Pauls message about the one true God was catching on. Lets dwell on that he added no new commands to his disciples. In fact in this passage with the demons naming His name, this was often done in the ancient world, if you knew someone's name you could call out that name as a part of casting a spell on them. Johns Entertaining LOL Interpretation shows me that he sees cracks in his theology, but is unwilling to own up to them. Three witnesses! They could, at least, admit to the possibility of what has been discussed here and about the other facts. So why did the meek n merciful Son of Man cast countless defiling demons into two thousand piglets, sows and boars? Yet this is exactly what Christians believe; Jesus came to fulfill (but think annul) the Law and then start a whole new religion. The book ends on that very point. Problem was, not even the pigs could withstand the madness these demonic forces manifested. The Feeding of the Four Thousand | Catholic Answers Am I forgiven by saying, I just, The Land of Israel is/was no place for two thousand pigs. Gerasa is mentioned next by Josephus in connection with the Jewish rebellion against the Romans in a.d. 70. But just a theory. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. were the gerasenes gentiles 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. Echoes of Exodus in the Land of the Gerasenes | Mitchell Lewis (, Its not clear exactly who is doing more killings, the LORD or Melchizedek, but the picture overall fits the image of Son of God cleaning the land of swine. Interestingly, if you obey the latter, and take just the babies or the eggs but release the dame, God promises you a long and successful life. founders day speech by students were the gerasenes gentiles. No, the Gentiles are not simply non-Jews. Gentiles are loved by God and redeemed by Jesus. New International Version (NIV), Encyclopedia of The Bible Gerasa, Gerasenes. So how on earth could they dictate to the Son of God where they wished to go? WebGadarenes. Jesus was a Jew.
While animal-abuse cases arent normally rampant among church-goers, its no thanks to this bishops official policy. The pagan religions continued among the Gentile population as is evidenced by the ruins of the temple of Artemis. From the brook beside the road he will drink and for this reason, he will lift high his head. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Perhaps even ask who might that future group of individuals be to whom Jesus will say, Depart, I never knew you (Matthew 7:22) because even though they called him, Lord, Lord [and had gone to seminary and made dispensational charts] they somehow were on the wrong path. Jesus though he was The Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and John 1:21) had to play by the same laws. He's set free. It may well be a picture of the reverse of what happened in the Garden of Eden. Its inconceivable that the pigs were owned by Gentiles. Wnsche, Neue Beitrge zur Erluterung der Evangelien aus Talmud und Midrasch, p. 119. Were in the same story, my friends. The miracle referred to took place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa, the modern Kersa , close by the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and hence in the country of Gergesenes. His sermon should have given us some point, some excuse, or some logical explanation for it all. It is true that we discover new thoughts or extra meaning over time, but Gods Word is permanent and cannot change. Did Jesus really sacrifice the swine for the man? The following Scripture wont disprove Gods love for all animals, deny the Almightys unalterable character, declare the commandments null and void, nor claim all meats clean (kosher). Sadly, GotQuestions misses the point, or they lie, saying that being distinct was all important to God. (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.) WATER DESTROYED HER!!!! facts why Jesus cast the demons In the 2nd cent. Not that I believe my case has holes. In course of time, as the Jews began more and more to pride themselves on their peculiar privileges, it acquired unpleasant associations, and was used as a term of contempt. This agrees with the general description of the site (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Instead of dead Egyptians washing up on the shore, we see dead pigs, an intentional insult to the minions of Satan. Jesus is saying that Jesuss commandments are the same as the Fathers. Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him. WebThe name Gergesa has led to the supposition that the Girgashites, one of the seven Canaanitish nations, originally occupied this territory. Jesus heals the Gerasene demoniac in Luke 8 | Psephizo Why explain something that is as plain as the nose on your face? Scripture also makes it abundantly clear that God Almighty cannot change, and no one, not even the Lord's Anointed Messiah can change the Law which they both wrote. Clearly, Luke is telling you this because he wants you to show the amazing power of Jesus Christ, even over demons. Such a conclusion will annoy a lot of people, even funny, leaky dispensationalists like John MacArthur. It seems to happen a lot in the gospels. This is the only sensible interpretation which remains consistent with all Scripture. First of all, I believe Mark was attempting to warn his Gentile readers of the great danger of demonic influence and activity. 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. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Jesus is the lover of our souls. In 2 Samuel 17 we read of the young boy who would be king risking everything for one lamb. Therefore, if Jesus gave no commandment (singular), what is he referring to when he talks about commandments (plural) in the following: The answer: when he says, keep my commandments he means the ones he and the Father gave Israel at Sinai. Yet they tried to throw one of their own off a cliff (Luke 4:29). Secondly, theyre forgetting that Jesus also says that people are more important than sparrows. Jesus does not go looking for this demon-possess man, the man comes to Him. After a dramatic journey across the lake (Luke 8:22-25), Jesus steps for the first and last time into Gentile territory. When Jesus said that he had not came to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), he was not talking to the Jews who already knew the Law was permanent, he was looking into future centuries and talking to those Christians who would try to destroy it. Such a pat answer to such a serious question is as irritating as it is ridiculous. They cannot cast a spell on Him. Overall, when it comes to any animal being selected for food or for sacrifice, God sees only two types. Why are there two demon-possessed men in the Gerasene tombs in Somewhere I read that that region actually raised pigs and worshipped them or considered them as idols so study about the region and style of worship for that region. Besides Johns cute play on words dont add or God will add consider what plagues he might be talking about and what book he might be talking about. Ha, ha.. yeah lemme ummm.. tell ya about those pigs.., 2 ) Like any rational redneck, they smelled their Gentile neighbors having a pork BBQ and said DAAAANG, Hoss! 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, And they are no more capable of liberating themselves than this man was capable of liberating himself from this host of demons. Pastor MacArthur would do well to learn from his Jewish counterparts. For these reasons, the writers of the gospels gave no explanation and the Twelve asked no question about why Jesus destroyed all the swine. Such a contradiction in character! The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. 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). Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? In fact, the next thing the name did was to take a steel bar, place it in his teeth, and proceed to bend it with his hands and with his teeth. Yet a number of objections immediately spring to mind. And guess what this week's focus is on? Thats why there was a herd of two thousand But these differences are typical of eye-witness reports and only irritate skeptics. He was incapable of changing his circumstances. James Gibson. Also, the land where the Master walked and the swine were feeding belonged to Israel. They were wise enough to figure out if Jesus in His authority over them would allow them to exit of their choosing, they would select the black pigs often used in sacrifice to Baal. Similarly, as God incarnate, Jesus knows the future. The good pastor basically believes that in Jesuss mind, one mans peace, preservation and freedom from unclean spirits is worth the sacrifice of a couple thousand pigs. He's converted. Every creature on land, or in the water, or in the air is classified by either the Hebrew term, (, The main reason God limits righteous people to a select group of clean/pure animals is for, Gods altar was also separate and distinct and holy. ix. 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. These demons of the Gadarene Demoniac wanted to stay in this territory where worship of Baal was predominant. 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. neither the four Greek words, nor any idea similar to them, are ever repeated in Scripture, whereas the destruction of the swine herd is thrice-repeated and uses a few more than four words. In other words, they believe the one who killed the pigs with the demons is equal to the Father. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! The vision had nothing to do with shrimp rings or BLTS. 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. Of course this kosher interpretation is just as obvious painfully obvious to John MacArthur and Piper, yet I've never seen either refute the issue or deal honestly with their doubts. Regrettably, what were about to study the, And he answers him, saying, My name is Legion because there are many of us. Also he begs Jesus many times that he'd not send them away, out of the. Answer: the impurity of the swine. In fact, they are afraid of him and beg him to leave. Wed obey Him. He is the dividing line here. The Jewish Messiah rid himself of two defiling groups in one blow. (Cf. What do you love?
Marks Jesus is a warrior who conquers Gods enemies. So its a fair comparison to place Pauls actions in Ephesians side-by-side with Jesuss actions by the Lake of Galilee. Ruins of the temple of Artemis, some columns still standing, are on another hillside above the ruins. The demons inhabit the bodies of this herd of pigs and the pigs cast them into the Lake of Galilee. We do not say that to cast the first stone. 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. Mark and Luke call it Gerasenes and some English versions translate it as Gergesenes. It is all the same place. We pray in Jesus' name. 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.". 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 pains them to admit that Jesus was/is a, Sixth Fact: True identity of the pig farmers. Perhaps that is his point. They sort of seek Him out. Although He encountered and ministered to Gentiles such as the centurion who had a paralyzed servant (Matt. The Land of Israel is/was no place for two thousand pigs. If I still had some misgivings, Id be man enough to share them here. The Bible doesnt say. The nearby shepherds were sheep shepherds, not hog herders. Looking back over the entirety of Gods Word, we do indeed notice many plagues rained down on the wicked in other books. And it's the glorious picture of the value that He puts on an immortal soul. May God grant us the liberation through Jesus Christ to become what that nameless man became. Most Christians believe Messiah is the Second Person of the Trinity. (But that may sadly describe a good number of Christians.) In Luke 4 and 5, great multitudes are following Jesus Christ when He does His miracles. 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 (, All of these commandments and more are still taken literally by many Jews today. were the gerasenes xviii. And based roughly on current prices, Jesus caused hundred of thousands of dollars in damages. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes: (These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. Diana (Artemis) of Ephesuslovely without a nose! to biblical Galilee, regarded, in opposition to Judaea, as a country of Gentiles (as in Matthew 4:15) What was Jairus occupation? This page from an Orthodox website partially shows how Judaism views their responsibility. This has been a long blog thanks for sticking with it but because Im going to ruffle feathers, Ive gone the extra mile to explain myself clearly and to plug any holes in my argument. It was part of the Greco-Roman region known as the Decapolis, or ten towns. or ten And it is reveals a great deal comparing the reactions of the Gentiles in the two towns. 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..
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were the gerasenes gentiles