12/03/13

The legion unfolded - mystery of one or two

Matthew 8:28-34,Mark 4:1-21, Luke 8:26-40 - The 2 men with a legion in Matthew with the 1 man with a legion in Mark and Luke


Initially as I was studying the Bible my faith was shaken with the recording between Matthew, Mark and Luke about the man/men with a legion of unclean spirit. For me even 1 error in the Bible can destroy my faith since I do believe it as infallible Word of God.

God did save me from falling by opening the structure and design of the Bible (books) and through that I learned about Callings. But this event still was a thorn in my belief until someone recorded all the events of the Gospel into its chronicle order and to my surprise I saw that the event recorded in Matthew was the recording of a separate event which happened in the winter of AD27 and the event recorded in Mark and Luke happened in start of AD30. Jesus had not delivered just one person from a legion of spirit but at one time 2 men and the other time 1 man one at Gergesenes (means 'a stranger drawing near') and other at Gadarenes (means 'reward at the end') respectively.

People think Gergesenes (Gergesa) and Gadarenes (Gadara) are names of the same place since the common reference to the Sea of Galilee. These assumptions have caused people to think in the fallibility of scriptures.

Firstly although Gadara and Gergesa are both on the banks of the Sea of Galilee yet they refer to 2 different places. Gadara is about 5.5 mile inland compared to Gergesa which is on the bank. And they are about 12 to 15 miles apart from each other.

The historian who put the events in chronicle order put the events in the following order:-

Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:1-7:29
Healing of leper - Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15
Crosses the Sea of Galilee to Gaulanitis before that he meets a scribe and confronts on of His disciples (winter of AD27) - Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62
Calming of storm after getting up from His sleep while traveling from Gaulanitis across the Sea of Galilee - Matthew 8:23-26
Meeting the 2 demonic men - Matthew 8:28-9:1
Goes into the wilderness to pray - Luke 5:16

Left Caesarea Philippi and went to Galilee (late Nov or early Dec of AD29) - Matthew 17:22; Luke 8:1-3
Disciples argue who is greatest - Matthew 18:1-34; Mark 9:33-37
Goes to Capernaum where Peter pays the special Temple tax with the coin found in a fish's mouth - Matthew 17:24-27
Parables or Sower, tares, mustard seed, mustard plant, lamp on a stand, leaven in a loaf of bread, household treasure, treasure in a field, pearl of great price, casting a net, householder - Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-32; Luke 8:5-18
Calming the storm (Dec 30 / Jan 1 of AD29) - Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:23-25
Confronts man with a legion - Mark 5:1-21; Luke 8:27-40
Return to Capernaum and meet Jarius - Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

Another interesting fact that comes from this understanding is that the events in the Gospel of Matthew and Mark are based on their individually meeting the witnesses and they did not refer to each other's records like people think. Even though they look like a subset of each other yet they are not and common between them were just the witnesses. It only shows the accuracy of their recordings.

Luke on the other hand did a compilation of all the recording / Gospels existing at that time after verifying them all along with Paul and the other Apostles / disciple so as to compliment them (including the Gospels of Matthew and Mark). Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the only Gospels that found from the 1st century, the other so called gospels that claim to be by people existing with Jesus like Gospel of Thomas or of Mary the Magdalene are from the 3rd or 4th century.

After understanding this it assures us that the Word of God is infallible and so also is our hope of salvation in Him.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we know You are perfect and so also is your Word. Lord we pray your people put their whole trust in your Word. Even though at times they may not understand, let them know it is the limitation of their mind and not the limitation of your Word...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 8:28-34

Mark 4:1-21

Luke 8:26-40

Luke 1:1-4
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

2 Timothy 4:11-13
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)