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| Hillside near Gadarenes |
On a trip to
Israel when we visited the Gadarenes area, at the north end of the Sea of
Galilee, our tour guide asked us what we thought “the other side” meant---and I
responded (correctly) “the place of the Gentiles.” Swine were raised in this area and since Jews
don’t eat pork, it had to be a Gentile area. When Jesus cast the demons into
the swine those herdsmen lost not only their income, but also their next meal. No
sitting down for a feast with Jesus that day. Economically speaking, it is
understandable that they asked Jesus to leave. Who asks someone who has just
caused them to lose their income to hang around and have a feast with
them? Additionally, we can assume that
they were afraid of Jesus’ power. Who can tell demons what to do? Those who had been demon possessed probably
would have liked to have thanked Jesus, but this passage doesn’t tell us that.
Today – near the hillside at Gadarenes you’ll find a park with
the scripture written in the sand. Parallel scripture in Mark 5:1-17 and Luke 8:26-39 tells us that there were 2000 pigs. That is a huge herd of swine! The passage in Mark relates that the formerly demon possessed man wanted to leave with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and report to his people the great things the Lord had done for him and the mercy the Lord had on him. So he went to Decapolis, an area of ten Greek cities southeast of the Sea of Galilee (now in Jordan) and told about what Jesus had done for him. Wow—he was like one of the first missionaries for Jesus.
Lord, we praise you and thank you that you came to heal and minister to the Gentiles, too. Help us to tell others what you have done for us.
©
2011 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights
reserved.
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