Who owned the pigs? He knew how bad it was going to go for the pigs. WebThey land in the country of the Gadarenes which is on the North-east shore of the Sea of Galilee about 6 miles southeast across the sea from Capernaum. Money Maker Software may be used on two systems alternately on 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or more subscriptions. (Cf. Christians never finish reading the chapter.
WebHe calls the inhabitants Syrians, when, at the beginning of the Jewish revolt, the district round Gerasa was laid waste. Basically, a vision told Peter three times to eat defiling animal meat (at least that was how it seemed to him) so Peter logically replied that he had never eaten anything ritually impure or defiling (Acts 10:14). Or are we with those who love what we want and what we have more than we love the Word of life from the only One who can give life? He couldnt introduce a new religion. They were to teach the Gentiles about Him (Acts 13:4647). May God grant us the liberation through Jesus Christ to become what that nameless man became. Sinai. They do not bother mentioning Scriptures emphasis on being holy before God. WebIt was named after the 10 ( deka) cities ( polis) which were in that area. For you Tolkien fans it reminds me of a character in the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings. Cant we be candid in our search to know God? If the Eternal One, blessed be He, had said just once that pork was unclean and forbidden, that should be enough. Yet this is exactly what Christians believe; Jesus came to fulfill (but think annul) the Law and then start a whole new religion. Well, Ill try and explain that before the end of the sermon, but there were several titles that didn't get included in the sermon bulletin today. But are these good pastors on the right track? What does it say? But there are many reasons why Im not keen on the idea of the Gospels as non-historical. And if I remember correctly, I think there is some tradition about other Apostles going to Spain. Yes, this man is extraordinary. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. . You know, a month ago, a month ago, if you had said to anyone, You know, Tiger Woods is in slavery. They would have looked at you and said, You've got to be out of your mind. Also in a side note theres a rock with what looks like a human footprint in it, it is said this is Christs footprint. They were people who knew him. One moose, two moose. While foretelling death and doom was often, Fifth Fact: The True Author(s) of Scripture. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 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. WebMany New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than. The gospels. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Lets dwell on that he added no new commands to his disciples. Jesus enters enemy territory in two ways. Very interesting. (. Most Christians believe Messiah is the Second Person of the Trinity. In actual fact, when you stop to think about it, because God denounced pork in Leviticus, and then Jesus destroyed two thousand, and that event is thrice repeated by Matthew, by Mark, by Luke it all adds up to a big confirmation of the fact that God doesn't change. (Jos. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 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. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? 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, Well this is a taste of the profound arguments that you will find in that book. Now, if a Jew can be treated so badly by fellow Jews, lets put on our thinking caps and imagine what happens to a Jew walking straight into a big group of Gentiles. The stories in the gospels may or may not have happened but, regardless, they are told in a way that makes a theological point and were never intended to be understood as factual history. As was just so elegantly discussed, the destruction of the herd only makes sense if we remember that God never liked unclean food to begin with. So these four miracles show Jesus reaching out to Gentiles, either in Galilee or even in even more Gentile territory across the river. 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. Was it correct to destroy so many for just one (or two men). Doesn't Jesus Treat Animals as Property? In York, T.; Alexis-Baker, A.; Bekoff, M.; McLaren, B. WebThe terrified Gerasenes beseeching Jesus to leave them. The last point to tidy up Jesus allowed the demons to kill the pigs or Jesus did it? If you're carrying a sheep, is it still a "piggy" back ride? What happened to the demons when the pigs died? It pains them to admit that Jesus was/is a, Sixth Fact: True identity of the pig farmers. Many New Testament manuscripts refer to the "Country of the Gadarenes" or "Gerasenes" rather than Who were the gerasenes in the bible? In any event, the apparent differences in the texts prob. The forum, with a semicircle of columns still standing, was paved with large cut stones. He was incapable of changing his circumstances. So did the demons surprise him? In other words, they believe the one who killed the pigs with the demons is equal to the Father. In the 2nd cent. 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. 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. Secondly, I want you to look at the Lord Jesus Christ Himself because His power over Satan is on display full force in this passage. Additionally, the encounter takes place among the tombs, an earthly realm of the dead, so to speak. Therefore, I repeat again that I believe the pastors are dishonest for not admitting this fact. It's back just a few verses, the answer is back just a few verses. See more comments below.). He is more open with Gentiles because it fits His purpose about revelation to the Gentiles and the new inclusion in the kingdom. In his description of the boundaries of Perea, Josephus mentions Gerasa as one of the cities on the eastern boundary between Perea and Arabia, the other border cities being Philadelphia and Sebonitus (Jos. (, David, the son of Jesse, was another selfless, compassionate shepherd. They belonged to God. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. WebScripture exhorts us to care for animals and not to be cruel to them. Once there, Jesus encounters a man possessed by demons. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. JESUS DIDNT SEND THE DEMONS INTO THE DEEP; They were not. It's almost like the demons are inexorably drawn to Jesus. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! In this immediate area, steep hills come down to the shoreline and fit the story of the swine rushing headlong into the sea. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes: (These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. The Garasenes were not Jewish but the country was close to Galilee and Jesus had been to that side of the sea before. Gods altar was also separate and distinct and holy. This picking and choosing is completely unbiblical. (wait for it) turning the swine to the water! Working with the Law, and not against it, Jesus is shown to be completely in character and not out of his mind. Mark 5 is truly very simple: being a righteous Jew, the Law commands Jesus to abhor pigs as food. Go be a witness to Me as My disciple.. (eds.). Also, He is sometimes more open with outsiders/Gentiles than Jews because the negative reaction by the Jewish leaders would hinder his ministry more than rejection by Gentiles. Also, any every person who wants to please God is forbidden the heartless act of boiling a calf in its mothers milk (Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21), as well as the abominable practice of cutting and eating the leg of a live animal, only to leave the poor creature hobbling around with its three remaining legs (Deuteronomy 12:23; explanation). And so this man comes to Jesus, he seeks Him out, and Jesus says to him, What is your name? And the man doesn't know his name. His wisecracks are a distraction. Thy powersBring loss to us and ours.Our ways are not as Thine.Thou lovest men, weswine.Oh, get you hence, Omnipotence,And take this fool of Thine!His soul? 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? What have You to do with me, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God? Them there pigs were trying to hog Jesus limelight! Demons do not care about the person they possess hence all the cutting and harm the man did to himself. Since all of these areas overlap, one may take the references as meaning the same place. Late Latin Gerasenus, Gergesenus, from Greek Gerasnos, Gergesnos, from Gerasa, Gergesa ancient town in Palestine. But it was what they loved and they preferred it to everlasting blessing in Jesus Christ. The book ends on that very point. Its not possible for either of them to change, and therefore, inconceivable that Jesus would modify one iota of what he helped write. iii. Regrettably, what were about to study the Big Pig Splash Down isn't one of them. Sproul also agrees with this preference of people over pigs when he writes, a man is worth more than 2,000 pigs.. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. A Faith Embracing All Creatures: Addressing Commonly Asked Questions about Christian Care for Animals. Thats right, Whatever matter I am commanding you right now, it's what you must be careful to observe to do. But should you also doubt, my friendly blog reader, read on. This, by the way, is the miracle story that happens in Gentile land.
Apparently Gerasa was rebuilt by the Romans before the revolt began, prob. They are out to steal, kill, and destroy, so we dare not trifle with evil spirits. It was a leading city of Syria in commerce, culture, and religion. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. Almost there. 7 ) The pigs werent for eating. Jesus though he was The Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and John 1:21) had to play by the same laws. But isnt it a funny coincidence that pork happens to be on Gods list of forbidden food. And thirdly, they are forgetting the fate of this man with an immortal soul who was in danger not only of a continuous life of torment, but an eternal separation from God. 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. It was part of the Greco-Roman region known as the Decapolis, or ten towns. It was Gentile territory, the land of foreign gods, a place of idolatry. Obviously, they were Jewish pig farmers seeing judgement for flagrant disobey Gods Word and keeping and eating pig meat. Fourthly, Jesus specifically went to the land of the Gentile Gadarenes or Gerasenes, east of the Sea of Galilee, to minister to them. and therefore the good pastor declares the demoniac to be a Gentile since, as everyone also knows, Gentiles are better tomb-dwellers.. when hes rolling around with a thousand killer-demons inside. Amen, and thus ends this reading of God's holy, inspired, and inerrant Word. But what does Leviticus says about ham? This food is unclean and defiling for you. Two Sundays ago Take care then, how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away. They thought those pigs were theirs. 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. New International Version (NIV), Encyclopedia of The Bible Gerasa, Gerasenes. Since demons are by most accounts fallen angels to begin with, they already know to Whom they are ultimately accountable. 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 Jewish, living in a Jewish town surrounded by Jewish-owned pigs. WebHealing of a Demoniac. Deuteronomy 4 and 12 only state that none should add or remove what Moses was commanding, which sounds a little nebulous. Two thousand pigs dead for one person to live is not an even tradeand that is the point. But now this is 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. Its totally contrary to what we would expect. borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin galilea, probably after Galilea, Galilaea galilee, from a monastic and clerical comparison of the church porch, where the laity gathered, to biblical Galilee, regarded, in opposition to Judaea, as a country of Gentiles (as in Matthew 4:15) The borders are fairly clearly drawn up. This is a noteworthy fact because not every event in Jesuss ministry was thrice written down. So if you have the ears to hear, the Father and the Son both wrote the Law and gave it to 630,000 men (and women and children) at Mt. 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 War II. In the end, the good pastors assumptions keep us rolling in the aisles. So many beautiful verses and motivating passages are in Scripture. The hard hearts of those who reject Jesus. Although the Almightys statement is only one sentence in Deuteronomy 12:32, Jews regard it as two different commandments no additions and no subtractions. 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. Before the war it was a Gentile settlement. The demons freak out that Jesus is there because its not time for them to be tormented by Him yet. about a.d. 65. I've ended up, and Ill explain it later, giving the title The Man Jesus Renamed. Now that may peak your interest because in the passage no name is ever given for the man, either before or after his conversion, so you may be wondering why I've named it that. Besides, it was Christmas! 8:513) and the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was possessed (Mark 7:2430), the Jews received the bulk of His attention, and He spent most of His time in the predominantly Jewish regions of Galilee and Judea. Perhaps that is his point. 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. 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. Both Johns could conveniently connect the dots between the Law of God which outlaws the swine and the destructive action which Jesus took against the herd, but it would be too inconvenient for their religious views. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. So why were these pig owners on the east side of the lake afraid? That is exactly what is happening here. Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? Three witnesses! Look at what he first says when Jesus meets him in verse 28 What do you have to do with me, Jesus? His soul, what care we for his soul? Also, Orthodox Jews see a clear connection between Deuteronomy 12:32, do not add, and what happened in the Garden of Eden.
He dispatched Lucius Annius with a force of cavalry and an army of foot soldiers, who took the city on the first attack, slaughtering a thousand young men, taking their families captive, plundering and burning the city and the surrounding towns (Jos. Obviously the man with the demon was Jewish or Jesus would not have gone there. Why does the herd of swine go over the cliff? 6 ) There were lots of laws they didnt keep. You don't have to look very far. 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. Mr. Hippo read Mark 5 and convinced himself that Jesus did not care about swine, or any other animals, and therefore, spread a church doctrine that Christians have no genuine duty to animals. Pork is the most infamous of all-things-not-Jewish and the bad press that pigs receive in Scripture, and in contemporary Western society, is another reason why I accuse both pastors of being less than honest in their explanations about Mark 5. Ba-dum-tsss.). The apostle had been busy preaching in Demetriuss hometown of Ephesus and Pauls message about the one true God was catching on. Paul talked about going to Spain in Rom 15:24-28, so part of this is certainly within the realm of possibilities. It is repeated over and over. The fact anyone dreamed up dispensationalism, They say, None, but Jesus, kept the Law perfectly.
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