And what about trees or rocks? The hard hearts of those who reject Jesus. Dedicated Online Support through Live Chat & Customer Care contact nos. Three witnesses! Besides the jokes being in poor taste, they make his sermon seem less than professional. 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. Delivered to your inbox! The normally merciful Messiah destroyed the pigs in accordance with Gods Law about clean and unclean meat. John Oxenham1 wrote a poem about this passage. We pray in Jesus' name. Plus, these additions by John connect back to other passages in interesting ways. Playing with the plain truths of Gods eternal Scriptures means one is playing with fire and such actions will bring unfortunate consequences. There are echoes of exodus in Marks story, and echoes of Davids battle with Goliath. Post the Definition of Gerasene to Facebook, Share the Definition of Gerasene on Twitter, More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary, Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes. And from what I have heard, preferrably pig blood. So lets have an exquisite examination of Scripture to better appreciate what happened beside the lake and why the pigs ended up in it. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities north of Israel, and Jesus had been sent to the Jews ( Matthew 15:24 ). The city was large and well planned. While foretelling death and doom was often, Fifth Fact: The True Author(s) of Scripture. It was a region of 10 Greco-Roman cities, a Gentile region. Many will rush for cover behind the last four Greek words of this verse, despite all of its textual, translation and interpretation problems. Food cant affect our salvation, nor disqualify us from being saved.Pork might not be very healthy,but as long as its USDA approved and deemed good by health inspectors from feeder hogs tat eat corn to clean the mess out of them of the last few bowel movements, then you should be good to go. He is utterly sovereign. Clearly, Luke is telling you this because he wants you to show the amazing power of Jesus Christ, even over demons. Doesn't Jesus Treat Animals as Property? In York, T.; Alexis-Baker, A.; Bekoff, M.; McLaren, B. Lots of non-Jews lived there. I trust the Lord Jesus to know what to do with demons and what ought to be done. One was, His Name Was Legion, Not Ligon. I have been confused with Legion all my life and it worries me that it's not just the sound of the name, but I want to make it clear that Legion is not in any way related to Ligon. The forum, with a semicircle of columns still standing, was paved with large cut stones. in which he transferred the demons afflicting a man to a number of swine, that thereupon rushed down a steep hill and perished. (But that may sadly describe a good number of Christians.) Is John really referring to just the plagues of the book of Revelation, or could his words also include other books and plagues? And low and behold, two gospels specify that Jesus didnt go into Tyre (part of modern Lebanon), but that he was only in the vicinity of the city (Matthew 15:21; Mark 7:24 and Mark 7:31). conquest of Syria in 65 b.c. Heavenly Father, we thank You that the name of Jesus is sweet in the ears of believers, but we know, O Lord, that those who love this world do not know the sweetness of the sound of His name. The demons inhabit the bodies of this herd of pigs and the pigs cast them into the Lake of Galilee. Search the web and you will find many opinions about why the pigs died. Without a doubt, both men know God never came up with the line, Put pork on your fork. The gospels. v. 37) describe Jesus healing of the demoniac Legion and the drowning of the swine in the Sea of Galilee (cf. Well, this happens in the gospel with Jesus. 10:31). Over the years, Ive had to prove all this to myself first, and it took soul-searching and tons of Scripture research. Both of our good pastors assume that the people in Gerasene (Gadarene or Gergesene) were Gentiles in Gentile territory, partially because of the pigs, partially because of the demoniacs and partially because, The good pastor John MacArthur assumes in his video, [I stretch my hand out to the Jews] who sit by the graves and lodge over night in the tombs, who eat the flesh of pigs and the broth of corrupted meat from their pots. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 Its all so reminiscent of John MacArthur joking and John Piper giving pat answers because n body wants to be honest with the Word of God and face facts and Jesus killing pigs is one of those uncomfortable contradictions.). But wait, realize how deep Gods affection for animals goes. Early in the video, he is very factual and seems sure of himself. We do not say that to cast the first stone. In a recent online essay on the Gospel of Mark, Peter Leithart wrote. 5 ) They werent real Jews They were JINOs! And if he missed one, he didnt do it perfectly. 7). Mark 5 is truly very simple: being a righteous Jew, the Law commands Jesus to abhor pigs as food. I'm the man who Jesus saved by casting out the demons from me.. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Some of my Christian brothers and sisters see this as coded language referring to a confrontation with the political and military power of Rome. Read it for yourself. [Israels] real enemy isnt Rome, which barely figures into the gospel story. Did Jesus really sacrifice the swine for the man? We pray that he would find liberation in Jesus Christ and see his life and family restored, but my friends, any one of us, any one of us, can be in the same thralldom today. And the good pastor doesnt give any rationale for a slaughter that huge. In a similar way, we see that Scripture is the same; it doesnt change. And because he said it one single, solitary time, and he didnt actually present anything new, we have clear proof that he didnt add anything to the Law and his joke underscores the fact that he didnt add (or delete) from the Law! But what does Leviticus says about ham? And then finally, and very, very sadly, I want you to see in contrast to him, the reaction of the majority of the people in his city and country to what Jesus has done. He was getting everyone on board with what was started at Sinai. Israels real enemy is Satan. The book ends on that very point. These pastors have, Look at the prophets; they also prove Scripture doesnt change. To be honest, all the bad humour honestly makes me believe the pastor is being dishonest. That's what disciples do, they sit at their master's feet. After this long, careful study, it should be crystal clear that the heartless Bishop of Hippo was mistaken, as were our two good pastors. Yet they tried to throw one of their own off a cliff (Luke 4:29). 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. Something else to ponder about the Son of God is his other title, The Good Shepherd: David, the son of Jesse, was another selfless, compassionate shepherd. Fear and selfishness prompted the prayer. (eds.). Well pretend with him that the folks in Gerasenes were placid Gentile farmers happily raising their gentle Gentile pigs. Excavations at the modern Jarash (by the British and American Schools of Oriental Research and Yale University) clearly show that Gerasa was a large and important city already in Jesus time. Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with: Gerasene. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gerasene. It pains them to admit that Jesus was/is a, Sixth Fact: True identity of the pig farmers. All we know now is that the demoniac could have been either: Jew or Gentile. Additionally, it would have been foolish for the Apostles to claim hundreds and thousands of witnesses (1 Cor 15:1-6). Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. As the Philistine dead were strewn from Gaza to Ekron, so thousands of Satans dead fell in their own territory. Its totally contrary to what we would expect. Are you seeing this? That is exactly what is happening here. In the three Synoptic Gospels and, None of the verses below refute any of the. For less than $5/mo. They sort of seek Him out. The vision had nothing to do with shrimp rings or BLTS. Over the years, Ive had to prove all this to myself first, and it took soul-searching and tons of Scripture research. No one cares where he sleeps when hes busy trying to keep himself from killing himself. That amazing phrase, all of you be holy for I am holy did not start with Peter (1 Peter 1:16), because the apostle is quoting Leviticus. (For many a time it had seized him. In the 2nd cent. The Son of God mercifully cast thousands of. Yes, you read that right. The Syrians made reprisals, and took many prisoners. This passage is fundamentally about Jesus. 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. And he is sent out to negotiate with Aragorn and Gandalf, and the others. 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. And what about commands for married people (Exodus 21:10), or the command that a man gives his wife a bill of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1)? But if one cared to examine all of Gods Word, the only possible reason for Jesus to destroy the pigs in the exorcism seems to be connected to Gods opinion about ham. View our current career opportunities. The story is about the power of Jesus and, even his name, to rid humans of demons and also to show that his power was for Gentiles as well. He's liberated. With such a track record, what difference would Legions size or strength make? Peaceable Kingdom Series. Just remember the wonderful folks in Jesuss hometown? Just like in the Garden, when God judged Adam, he didn't strike him directly, but the ground soil instead. We have seen that God Almighty loves animals as much as humans, so Jesus randomly killing two thousand swine seems senseless, unless we remember God has commanded righteous people to avoid defiling food, such as pork. God never said dont touch. She added that bit. With or without graves? WebThe meaning of GENTILE is a person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith; especially : a Christian as distinguished from a Jew. (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.)