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. he has the power and the authority to ameliorate both. I say that Christians have turned Jews off because church-goers claim Jesus destroyed the Law and that Jews are blind for following the Law of Moses still. The main reason God limits righteous people to a select group of clean/pure animals is for the purpose of holiness. That's even more unexpected than not being angry because in Paul's case, it was the other way around. All four gospel writers repeatedly testify to Jesuss power over storm, waves and gravity (Matthew 8:22-27, Mark 4:3541 and Luke 8:2225, passages immediately before the pig-demon accounts! My research shows swine kill poisonous snakes. The thinking behind each chart is contrary to the unity and oneness of God. That is the exact opposite of other godly men (compare with 1 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:24). (eds.). 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. Sadly, our two good pastors seem oblivious to the fact that under the Law of Moses, animals have benefits too, and this fact should have bearing on any interpretation of Mark 5. Also, Johns emphasis do not take away from the words is stronger than Mosess original statement. Gods Law even has two commands that equate domestic livestock with wild animals. The Messiah has the same nature and character was the Father, as discussed in the Fourth Fact above. 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? So He gave them permission. In delivering the man from his bondage, Jesus restored creations promise. Other than that my friends, I don't know. The other, Deuteronomy 22:6-7, protects wild mother birds in a similar way, forbidding us from killing them along with their young at the same time. WebWell pretend with him that the folks in Gerasenes were placid Gentile farmers happily raising their gentle Gentile pigs. And it is reveals a great deal comparing the reactions of the Gentiles in the two towns. }. 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. 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). As the Philistine dead were strewn from Gaza to Ekron, so thousands of Satans dead fell in their own territory. 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. 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. Lets bring in a certain Greek silversmith and see how calmly he handles himself. 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. The fact anyone dreamed up dispensationalism in the first place shows how some attentive folk saw contradictions within traditional interpretations of Scripture, but were unwilling to admit to them directly, but instead they desperately concocted those nonsense charts. Therefore he had every right to judge the Jews and how they used land. 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. By Your Holy Spirit, show us our need of grace. Remember the story of Jesus casting demons out of the crazy man in Luke 8? So He got into the boat and returned. Well Ill explain that too, later on. Also oral tradition in this area talks of Christ coming and preaching the gospel there but being asked to leave shortly afterwards. And the thing that I love the most is the utter contrast in his attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ. Well this is a taste of the profound arguments that you will find in that book. The book ends on that very point. 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? All in all, after Jesus had trashed the livelihood of so many, we have to agree that they were more than gentle to let him off the hook and just asking him to leave town asap. This is clearly an extraordinary event. And what about trees or rocks? He had a new name and he had a new nature to go along with it. But Jesus still ministered to them: crowds from Tyre and Sidon came to see and listen to Him ( Mark 3:78 ). He wouldnt have lived long enough to get to a cross to die. led to the substitute reading Gergesenes, a reading that was suggested by a study of the geography of the area. But what are its implications? None of the verses below refute any of the Seven Forgotten Facts above. Luke doesn't think that it's an every day occurrence for a person to be possessed by a host of demons. Secondly, theyre forgetting that Jesus also says that people are more important than sparrows. 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 , Once more, we have half of an unclear verse, that people use to make up a, Gods Word has to agree with Gods Word. Well the first thing I want you to see is this picture of a person in the thrall of sin. Additionally, it would have been foolish for the Apostles to claim hundreds and thousands of witnesses (1 Cor 15:1-6). Before the war it was a Gentile settlement. After all, racism wasnt invented in the 21st century. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. It is true that we discover new thoughts or extra meaning over time, but Gods Word is permanent and cannot change. (But that may sadly describe a good number of Christians.) 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. Early in the video, he is very factual and seems sure of himself. I am but a man possessed by an innumerable host of demons. David was a good example of what Jesus meant by the shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Compared to this, Jesuss behaviour toward the pigs appears extremely callous: giving vile demons permission to slaughter swine is not exactly compassionate. 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. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 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. Plus, when Jesus chased the sellers out of the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 12:13-16), there is a small, but wonderful, detail that is in complete harmony with Matthew 10:29. The normally merciful Messiah destroyed the pigs in accordance with Gods Law about clean and unclean meat. 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? One unambiguous (but hotly debated) verse that supports this doctrine is, If we agree Messiah wrote the Law of God, we should then wonder, (Please dont hide behind that sensational dispensational chart. Not that I believe my case has holes. 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. Unsurprisingly in such a place, Jesus finds a man possessed by unclean spirits. And Christ went sadly.He had wrought for them a signOf Love, and Hope, and Tenderness divine;They wantedswine.Christ stands without _your_ door and gently knocks;But if your gold, or swine, the entrance blocks,He forces no man's holdhe will depart,And leave you to the treasures of your heart. Furthermore, how upset must God get seeing a doctor reach into the womb of a mother and murder her unborn child? 10 ) It was the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Decapolis. In Luke 4 and 5, great multitudes are following Jesus Christ when He does His miracles. Im wondering And so the demons call out His name Jesus, the Son of the Most High God and it has no effect on Him. Perhaps that is his point. When they ask Jesus to leave, he does so without any objection; Jesus ministry will not be imposed on those unwilling to receive it. So why were these pig owners on the east side of the lake afraid? Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 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. He is the strong man who binds Satan and plunders his house. WebGenesis 10:5 Context. Why did these people respond to Jesus this way? Fear and selfishness prompted the prayer. So whats the point because Pastor John Piper feels the pigs were less important and John LOL MacArthur just jokes about the slaughter neither reaction seems sensible. [] Top ten reasons why there were pigs in Gerasenes, (Linear Concepts, 17 October 2012), http://www.linearconcepts.com/archives/2011 []. We should ask the good pastors if love thy neighbour as thyself has any bearing on killing your neighbours livestock. Lots of non-Jews lived there. Mark and Luke wrote that Jesus /gave the right to them to enter the pigs much stronger wording and more official than allow. Playing with the plain truths of Gods eternal Scriptures means one is playing with fire and such actions will bring unfortunate consequences. Oh get you hence, Omnipotence, and take this foul of Thine. One Bible expositor said the pigs the demons sought refuge in were black. And was the Master doing the right thing sacrificing someone elses pigs. ESV - 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And based roughly on current prices, Jesus caused hundred of thousands of dollars in damages. HDB, II, p. 158, 159 for a detailed description.). Ive heard that the apostles and Christ may have traveled to Spain. For being kind to birds!? But isnt it a funny coincidence that pork happens to be on Gods list of forbidden food. 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. I listen to a pyschiatrist that said he never believed in demon possession until a exorcist ask him to work with him. What happened to the demons when the pigs died? If Jesus had done anything less, he could not have been the Messiah. And he is sent out to negotiate with Aragorn and Gandalf, and the others. It was interesting that Palmer had gone out without any announcement but this man knew who he was and he was obviously disturbed that he was there and he began to make threats. And the good pastor doesnt give any rationale for a slaughter that huge. Thats really why they were sent. To be honest, all the bad humour honestly makes me believe the pastor is being dishonest. (wait for it) turning the swine to the water! 6 ) There were lots of laws they didnt keep. What are you doing here, man of God? And then he attempted to intimidate him. The Messiah gave every Jew there that day a glimpse of the judgement to come. A city in Transjordania, situated about thirty-five m. SE of the S end of the [[Sea of Galilee]], one of the cities of the Decapolis; the Since these events were supposedly witnessed by hundreds (and even thousands of people), it would have been very easy for 1st century critics to debunk it as non-historical. 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. They do not bother mentioning Scriptures emphasis on being holy before God. Its true! This man, when Jesus says, What is your name? effectively says, I do not know my name. The prophet Jonah is held up as the merciless messenger of God; not a great title. 1. Sadly, Luther and other Reformed theologians repeat the same theological rubbish, despite Jesus saying he did not come to destroy the Law. Now the big-mouth irking this Greek artisan was our good friend, the Apostle Paul. And God isnt going to renounce or retract that decision no matter how many dispensational charts they print. there was never a prophecy that the kosher laws would be removed, so the verse is coming completely from left field. In Marks thinking, the mans extraordinary strength is evidence of supernatural bondage. If they did, they would not see the chapter attacking the research in this blog post, theyd see a defense for it! 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. Luckily, they didnt find Paul anywhere, but they did haul a number of Pauls colleagues down to city hall. Jesus is equating his commandments which can only be the ones in the Law of Moses, because he gave no commandments in the Gospels with his Fathers commandments in the Five Books of Moses. 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). Only this interpretation explains the farmers restrained reaction over the slaughter of the swine, and their tremendous terror of the Messiah. From the start, the evil spirits wanted to bring death and destruction, and they finally got their chance. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes: (These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. Gergasa (modern name Kersa) was a small village nearby, and Gadara was the larger region of which the village was a part, with Gerasa as the regional capital. it depends on the text you read, but one of the four Greek words is sometimes neuter, sometimes masculine a big deal in this language and in this verse. If the interpretation from one vague verse contradicts several unambiguous verses, which is wrong? During the time of Christ, the ten cities of Decapolis and the surrounding region were inhabited mostly by Gentiles, not Jews, and the area had a strong Greek influence. Doesn't Jesus Treat Animals as Property? In York, T.; Alexis-Baker, A.; Bekoff, M.; McLaren, B. Jesus ministered to and did miracles for the Gentiles there. They cannot cast a spell on Him. Pig meat, according to Scripture, is as, Suddenly, Mark 5 is clear. But are these good pastors on the right track? That is, they appear contrary, except for one thing: Gods Law forbids righteous people from eating pork. 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. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 9 But just a theory. The last now appears. He's not only a person extraordinarily under bondage to demonic activity, but he's actually a picture of everyone who is in the thrall of sin. In fact, they are afraid of him and beg him to leave. Paul himself said the doers of the Law will be made righteous (Romans 2:13), and that the Law is holy (Romans 7:12) and that the Law is spiritual (Romans 7:14). 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. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged Him to let them enter these. Where He goes, they show up and they say things to Him. Wed obey Him. He wrote under his own name, and also as John Oxenham for his poetry, hymn-writing, and novels. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. Many of you have seen, maybe fewer of you have read, a book by the famous British philosopher and skeptic, Bertrand Russell. why do you think there were pigs there?]. However, the pastors assumptions are perplexing. Scripture presents us with all we need to know. They were to teach the Gentiles about Him (Acts 13:4647). Yet they tried to throw one of their own off a cliff (, 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. 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. One day the prophet Samuel angrily told his king that God would not go back on His decision. Theres got to be a a good one about. 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.

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