And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
They landed by boat on the shore across the lake from Galilee, at the southern end, after crossing from the Galilean shore through a stormy night. The country was the territory of Gadara, also called Gergesa, a half-heathen town set on a high tableland about twelve hundred feet above the lake and some distance from the shore, in the region of Decapolis. The landing was on the lakeside below the city near caves and tombs along the road, early in the morning, just before He met and freed two men tormented and controlled by many destructive demons, restoring them to calm, intelligent minds. After the demons entered the swine and the herd was lost, the people, more concerned about property and fearing further loss, asked Him to leave without hearing His words, so He departed by ship and did not force His presence on them. Satan meant the loss to turn the people away and stop the gospel there, but the healed men remained as sent witnesses to their households and throughout Decapolis of His mercy and power to save, which prepared the region for His return, while those who drove Him away for worldly gain warn that no one can serve both God and mammon.
Place and Arrival
They came by boat from the Galilean shore and landed on the shore or coast across the lake or sea from Galilee, at the southern end of the lake, after a stormy night on the water. Jesus came with His disciples to that landing in the country of the Gadarenes. They reached the beach early in the morning.
The country was the territory of Gadara, also called Gergesa. Gadara was a half-heathen or heathen town set on a high tableland about twelve hundred feet above the lake and some distance from the shore. The region was that later described as Decapolis.
The landing was on the lakeside below the city, near caves and tombs along the road to Gadara where two dangerous men lived. Two men possessed by demons rushed toward them on the beach as soon as they landed. The arrival led at once to meeting and healing the demon-possessed men.
Healing, Rejection and Witness
On this visit across the lake Jesus freed two men tormented and controlled by demons from Satan's bondage. The demons were many in number and of great destructive power, yet Christ's power and mercy both delivered the men and preserved them and their keepers and owners. Their restoration was complete, to reason with calm, intelligent minds, changed appearance, and praise to God. The landing that brought this deliverance placed Jesus and His disciples on the Gadarenes' shore across from Galilee, where He met the men immediately.
After the demons entered the swine and the herd was lost, the people were more concerned about the lost swine than the men's deliverance. They feared further loss of property and, having seen His power over the storm and over demons, asked Jesus to leave. They did so without having heard His words and without understanding what they were rejecting. He therefore departed by ship back across the lake, not forcing His presence on those who rejected Him.
Satan intended the destruction of the swine to turn the people away from Jesus and stop the gospel from being preached there. Instead the event drew attention to Christ and brought Jesus and His power before the people of the region.
Though Jesus left, the restored men remained as His sent witnesses, ready to tell others what God had done for them. They were sent to their households and neighbors and throughout Decapolis and the surrounding country to tell what Jesus had done and of His mercy and power to save. They thus brought to those who had refused to hear Him the light they had refused from Him. Their witness prepared the region, so that when He returned crowds gathered and thousands from the surrounding country heard the message of salvation.
The Gadarenes had seen evidence of His power and mercy in the healing of the two men, yet drove Him away because following Him threatened worldly interests and livelihood. Fearing further financial loss they chose wealth and worldly interests over His presence. Their choice warns that people may reject His teaching and drive His Spirit from their hearts when discipleship appears to threaten livelihood, for no one can serve both God and mammon.
They landed by boat on the shore across the lake from Galilee, at the southern end, after crossing from the Galilean shore through a stormy night.
The country was the territory of Gadara, also called Gergesa, a half-heathen town set on a high tableland about twelve hundred feet above the lake and some distance from the shore, in the region of Decapolis.
The landing was on the lakeside below the city near caves and tombs along the road, early in the morning, just before He met and freed two men tormented and controlled by many destructive demons, restoring them to calm, intelligent minds.
After the demons entered the swine and the herd was lost, the people, more concerned about property and fearing further loss, asked Him to leave without hearing His words, so He departed by ship and did not force His presence on them.
Satan meant the loss to turn the people away and stop the gospel there, but the healed men remained as sent witnesses to their households and throughout Decapolis of His mercy and power to save, which prepared the region for His return, while those who drove Him away for worldly gain warn that no one can serve both God and mammon.
Place and Arrival
They came by boat from the Galilean shore and landed on the shore or coast across the lake or sea from Galilee, at the southern end of the lake, after a stormy night on the water. Jesus came with His disciples to that landing in the country of the Gadarenes. They reached the beach early in the morning.
The country was the territory of Gadara, also called Gergesa. Gadara was a half-heathen or heathen town set on a high tableland about twelve hundred feet above the lake and some distance from the shore. The region was that later described as Decapolis.
The landing was on the lakeside below the city, near caves and tombs along the road to Gadara where two dangerous men lived. Two men possessed by demons rushed toward them on the beach as soon as they landed. The arrival led at once to meeting and healing the demon-possessed men.
Healing, Rejection and Witness
On this visit across the lake Jesus freed two men tormented and controlled by demons from Satan's bondage. The demons were many in number and of great destructive power, yet Christ's power and mercy both delivered the men and preserved them and their keepers and owners. Their restoration was complete, to reason with calm, intelligent minds, changed appearance, and praise to God. The landing that brought this deliverance placed Jesus and His disciples on the Gadarenes' shore across from Galilee, where He met the men immediately.
After the demons entered the swine and the herd was lost, the people were more concerned about the lost swine than the men's deliverance. They feared further loss of property and, having seen His power over the storm and over demons, asked Jesus to leave. They did so without having heard His words and without understanding what they were rejecting. He therefore departed by ship back across the lake, not forcing His presence on those who rejected Him.
Satan intended the destruction of the swine to turn the people away from Jesus and stop the gospel from being preached there. Instead the event drew attention to Christ and brought Jesus and His power before the people of the region.
Though Jesus left, the restored men remained as His sent witnesses, ready to tell others what God had done for them. They were sent to their households and neighbors and throughout Decapolis and the surrounding country to tell what Jesus had done and of His mercy and power to save. They thus brought to those who had refused to hear Him the light they had refused from Him. Their witness prepared the region, so that when He returned crowds gathered and thousands from the surrounding country heard the message of salvation.
The Gadarenes had seen evidence of His power and mercy in the healing of the two men, yet drove Him away because following Him threatened worldly interests and livelihood. Fearing further financial loss they chose wealth and worldly interests over His presence. Their choice warns that people may reject His teaching and drive His Spirit from their hearts when discipleship appears to threaten livelihood, for no one can serve both God and mammon.