Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, dating to the sixth century AD. The exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39), frequently known as the Miracle of the (Gadarene) Swine and the exorcism of Legion, is one of the miracles performed by Jesus according to the New Testament. [1]
In Christianity, exorcism involves the practice of casting out one or more demons from a person whom they are believed to have possessed. The person performing the exorcism , known as an exorcist , is often a member of the Christian Church , or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills.
Christ continues to expound on the subject of demoniacal possession, having just healed a possessed man. Lapide writes that the Scribes were spiritually possessed, and that their unclean spirit was driven out by the law of God, from the Jews, who were the people of God, among whom God dwelt, and manifested Himself by prophecies and miracles.
The New Testament mentions Jesus casting out evil spirits fifty-five times but only describes the events in detail five times. [4] He casts demons out of a man in a synagogue (Mark 1) and two men near tombs (Matthew 8). In both episodes, Jesus converses with the demons, and they acknowledge him as the Son of God before he casts them out. [5]
The Greek makes clear that healing illnesses and casting out spirits were two parts of the same act, a reflection of the common belief at the time that diseases were caused by demonic possession. Throughout the New Testament, the power to conduct such exorcisms is one of the leading examples of spiritual power.
The incarnation of the demons has been a problem in Christian demonology and theology since early times. A very early form of the incarnation of demons was the idea of demonic possession, trying to explain that a demon entered the body of a person with some purpose or simply to punish that one for some allegedly committed sin.
He finds the man is possessed by a multitude of demons who give the collective name of "Legion". Fearing that Jesus will drive them out of the world and into the abyss, they beg him instead to cast them into a herd of pigs on a nearby hill, which he does. The pigs then rush into the sea and are drowned (Mark 5:1–5:13).
Fifth century mosaic of Christ exorcising demons, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy.. The synoptic gospels portray Jesus exorcising at sunset just after he had healed the mother of Peter's wife, in Matthew 8:16–17, Mark 1:32–34 and Luke 4:40–41.