In other words, the Roman Catholic Church took four Greek words torn out of mid-sentence and declared them to mean, the end (read, death) of the law [of Moses], although numerous verses declare the fixed, eternal character of Gods Perfect Law.
The distinction between the two is clear (now). Seen in this light, Jesuss actions against the herd were more than appropriate and neither Matthew, Mark nor Luke bothered to explain or rationalize the Masters actions. Archeology. 8 ) Their pork was kosher, kept out of the camp for 7 days, and circumcised.
How Many Places Did Jesus Visit The pagan religions continued among the Gentile population as is evidenced by the ruins of the temple of Artemis. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. The Catholic Church's interpretation of this verse is sheer nonsense, because the weight of Scripture contradicts it, so true Reformers need to re-read their Bibles. 10 ) It was the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Decapolis. The site is identified today with the town of Kersa, or Gersa, just below Wadi es-Samak. The pastors precious-people useless-swine principle was previously dreamed up by the 3rd century church father, St. Augustine of Hippo (quoted by Spalde and Strindlund), and he ran with it. So he had to live according to the truth that had already revealed and to get everyone else in line with the program. I beg You, do not torment me. Then, if you look in verse 38, he begs Jesus that he might be with him. (, 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. Was it correct to destroy so many for just one (or two men). It's this man who is in bondage to these demons. These three verse from John really are earth-shattering. (For many a time it had seized him. So many beautiful verses and motivating passages are in Scripture. Lets bring in a certain Greek silversmith and see how calmly he handles himself. And then they beg to go into the herd of pigs. 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. Many of the events are corroborated by other authors. The heart set free from sin by Jesus. 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. 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? 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. 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.
were the gerasenes Money Maker Software may be used on two systems alternately on 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or more subscriptions. Sinai. }. I wonder why?). 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. 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? 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. That's why Jesus's motivation to kill the herd was more than obvious to the Tedious Twelve and the gospel writers. He had a new name and he had a new nature to go along with it. Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, [Let me just pause right there. In a recent online essay on the Gospel of Mark, Peter Leithart wrote. This page from an Orthodox website partially shows how Judaism views their responsibility. *sigh*). 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. In turn, they would have a vehicle wherewith to stay in their territory. Ellicotts Commentary, for one, believes the four Greek words were a latter addition. I definitely dont want to be near that doctor on Judgement Day.). Luke doesn't think that it's an every day occurrence for a person to be possessed by a host of demons. Now you understand what sitting at the Savior's feet means? Next, what if our imaginary Jew damaged a ton of Gentile property under their very noses. .hide-if-no-js {
Now we see the missing puzzle piece: God had plainly prohibited pork as food, making it clear that holy people should not eat it , Overall, when it comes to any animal being selected for food or for sacrifice, God sees only two types. As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. It pains them to admit that Jesus was/is a, Sixth Fact: True identity of the pig farmers. Almost there. But are these good pastors on the right track? This means that these miracles are especially meant to teach believers something. --ED.). No products in the cart. Facts are piling up. As for Matthew, he quoted Jesus as commanding the demons, and used the plural form of the verb, go. They were ..ummm ..for producing manure to fertilize crops.
Gentile Since I believe the word of God is our playbook for life, what is Jesus telling us? It is true that we discover new thoughts or extra meaning over time, but Gods Word is permanent and cannot change. to biblical Galilee, regarded, in opposition to Judaea, as a country of Gentiles (as in Matthew 4:15) What was Jairus occupation? These four miracle stories, also we said, in contrast to the miracles in Luke 4 and 5, are focused on settings where a small group of the disciples witness the miracles. 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. The Messiah has the same nature and character was the Father, as discussed in the Fourth Fact above. Even city officials who were Pauls friends were scared for Pauls life (Acts 19:31). Gods Law even has two commands that equate domestic livestock with wild animals.
Lord God, even as we sing this hymn, cause those who do not know Him to love Him and cause those who love Him to love Him more than anything else in this world. Well the first thing I want you to see is this picture of a person in the thrall of sin. Note that Jesus never touched the demon-inhabited individual: He merely spoke to him, commanding the evil to depart. But Christianity early became important in the city; several churches were built during these centuries, so that by the 5th cent., Gerasa could send a bishop to the Council of Chalcedon. Sadly, Luther and other Reformed theologians repeat the same theological rubbish, despite Jesus saying he did not come to destroy the Law. He didnt give any new commandment. We do not find demons under every pew and under every rock. Therefore, even though folks from the Bishop of Hippo down to our two good California pastors have tried to persuade us that the Creator has shifted His views on pork, God did not, can not, and will not vary or alter or adjust any word spoken about any decision let alone His views on ham sandwiches. But what does Leviticus says about ham? While foretelling death and doom was often, Fifth Fact: The True Author(s) of Scripture. If the interpretation from, If a bunch of little children want a ball to play with and I toss them a grenade, am I off the hook if a kid pulls out the pin? Another problem with the Catch-22 interpretation is the sheer number of other animals or places that Jesus could have negotiated for. A may also be a combination of two or more genres. 6 ) There were lots of laws they didnt keep. 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. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world (Exodus 19:46). He showed mercy to the men who were possessed and brought judgement on the pig farmers. Demons, Jesus, and the Pigs The Outlaw Bible Student, http://www.linearconcepts.com/archives/2011. There's a total change of nature in this man. In a similar way, we see that Scripture is the same; it doesnt change. 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. Flower blossoms wither. Learn how your comment data is processed.
were 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 They had the exact same reaction to Jesus that Bertrand Russell would manifest two thousand years later. These authors were Biblical (Peter, James, Paul, Hebrews, etc) and to a lesser extent, non-biblical (Josephus, Pliny, etc). His actions now make sense in this new light. And the only real bargaining chip according to this interpretation was offering them the two thousand big pink chips. (eds.). Its a weird story, but its in the Gospels a couple of times, so we have to accept it as truth. Their line of reasoning supposes that Jesus wanted to save the man (men) but too many unclean spirits meant Jesus had to negotiate to get them to move out. One moose, two moose. All we know now is that the demoniac could have been either: Jew or Gentile. For the moment, Jesus was just being ironic.
Christians never finish reading the chapter.
Why did Jesus mention Tyre and Sidon If Paul got himself into hot water because of a Gentile speculating about declining silver sales, how could Jesus have avoided a ton of hot water for killing hundreds of Gentile-owned swine? 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. Of course not. In delivering the man from his bondage, Jesus restored creations promise. It was part of the Greco-Roman region known as the Decapolis, or ten towns. or ten Another command applies to women who have given birth to a child (Leviticus 12:6), so that would be easy for Jesus to obey, not to mention the monthly ritual baptisms Jewish women do for certain reasons!!! But look at how many times God let it be known in the Law and in very certain terms eating pork was offensive. 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. In the story of the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus invades enemy territory and defeats a powerful army to deliver people from bondage. The good pastor actually believes that a Jewish man can rationally decide the best sleeping quarters Tomb or no tomb? http://archive.ligonduncan.com/mp3/12.13.2009_Dr_J_Ligon_Duncan_The_Man_Jesus_Renamed_Luke_8_26-39.mp3. Seven Forgotten Facts clarify our interpretation, One possible reason the Son of David chose the pigs was that he had, But this view is shocking because it places Gods Son on an equal footing with the unclean spirits and thus flies in the face of the normal presentation of Jesus in the Gospels. And it is a shame that the good pastors dont take these relevant Scripture passage into consideration. This leads the third observation: just as the disciples had been terrified by both the storm and Jesus calming of it on the way over to the Gerasenes, the local people here respond with fear. The Gemara on the passage gives a historical foundation for the practise in the times of Aristobulus. 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? 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. The demons inhabit the bodies of this herd of pigs and the pigs cast them into the Lake of Galilee.
Gerasene Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster 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. If I still had some misgivings, Id be man enough to share them here. Jesus is the lover of our souls. 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. Don't they know their Bibles? 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. 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. No cumbered chamber will the Master share,But one swept bare By cleansing fires, then plenished fresh and fairWith meekness, and humility, and prayer.There will He come, yet, coming, even thereHe stands and waits, and will no entrance winUntil the latch be lifted from within. There are echoes of exodus in Marks story, and echoes of Davids battle with Goliath. Show us the only hope of deliverance from those sins and teach us these things from this passage. 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. 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. I cannot offer you a proof-text for this observation. Thats right, adding or subtracting from Scripture, according to Scripture, is illegal. Top Ten Reasons Why There Were Pigs in Gerasenes (Lk 8 ) 10 ) It was the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Decapolis. Now do you see how silly the Jesus-kept-the-Law-perfectly statement is? Ive heard that the apostles and Christ may have traveled to Spain. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. The miracles that are recorded here, just like the one that we saw last week, are seen by that small circle of disciples that is following Jesus around. It is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. John 13:34 was the one single, solitary time that the Master told his disciples, I give you a new commandment. However, the commandment wasnt a new commandment. The real irritation is people saying the Law was impossible to obey, when Scripture says the opposite it true. And it is reveals a great deal comparing the reactions of the Gentiles in the two towns. Its one thing to understand that He personally never changes. So lets not laugh these verses off. The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. For you Tolkien fans it reminds me of a character in the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings. (Only an amateur Hebraist would claim the latter, frankly.). Johns words seem to apply to all of Scripture. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
Topical Bible: Gerasenes Gentiles Was He asking us the impossible because He had nothing better to do or is He sadistic? 2. Peaceable Kingdom Series. In a, If Paul got himself into hot water because of a Gentile, 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! (, Although the Almightys statement is only one sentence in, For I myself witness truthfully to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book, , Besides Johns cute play on words dont, Also, Orthodox Jews see a clear connection between, This curse should deter makers of dispensational charts from chopping up Scripture because having my share taken from the Book of Life, or my name , Also, Johns emphasis do not take away from , As a result, our biggest take-away lesson is to never take away from the Word of the Almighty.But dispensational-flavoured pastors ignore this and teach us that Moses and David and even Jesus lived by different rules.