29.03.2013 Views

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

demonised would speak <strong>and</strong> act in accordance<br />

with his previous (Jewish) demonological ideas.<br />

He would not become a new man, but be <strong>the</strong> old<br />

man, only under <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> demon, just as<br />

in mania a person truly <strong>and</strong> consistently speaks <strong>and</strong><br />

acts, although under <strong>the</strong> false impi'eseions which a<br />

diseased brain conveys to him. <strong>The</strong> fact that in <strong>the</strong><br />

demonised state a man's identity was not<br />

superseded, but controlled, enables us to account<br />

for many phenomena without ei<strong>the</strong>r confounding<br />

demonism with mania, or else imputing to our Lord<br />

such accommodation to <strong>the</strong> notions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> times, as<br />

is not only untenable in itself, but forbidden even<br />

by <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present narrative.<br />

<strong>The</strong> description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> demonised, comingont <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

tombs to meet <strong>Jesus</strong> as He touched <strong>the</strong> shore at<br />

Gerasa, is vivid in <strong>the</strong> extreme. His violence, <strong>the</strong><br />

impossibility <strong>of</strong> control by o<strong>the</strong>rs,^ <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong><br />

self-control,^ ^is homicidal,^ <strong>and</strong> almost suicidal,^<br />

frenzy, are all depicted. Evidently, it was <strong>the</strong><br />

object to set forth <strong>the</strong> extreme degree <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

demonised state. Christ, Who had been chai'ged by

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!