WYA.1. Some have wondered about Jesus requiring the demon's name. They are worried about a popular belief that if a person knows a spirit's name, he can magically compel it to do his will. But, Jesus was not performing magic, because he never performed miracles by the power of wicked spirits. Jesus, however, was not only healing the demoniac. He was also teaching those around him. They needed to know the horrific fate that can befall a man, as well as to see God's wonderful power and mercy. Thus, the disciples were able to link the demon's answer with the mass hysteria of the pigs.
WYA.2. Mark has "the Lord" and Luke has "God." In speaking to this Gentile, Jesus was asserting the power and friendliness of the God of Israel, as opposed to Zeus or some other pagan God. Mark may have heard this report from Peter or some other eyewitness and so may have used "the Lord" in the sense that the older English translations render God's personal name as "the LORD." Luke was addressing mostly Gentiles, and so would have preferred the generic designation, "God." But we would like to pick up the connotation that Jesus was declaring the God of Israel to non-Jews, which is why I use a form of God's personal name. We have no reason to fear using God's personal name. Using his name lightly is rarely a good idea, no matter what particular designator you use.
WYA.3. In the Old Era, animals were determined as not fit to eat for various reasons. The Jewish prohibition against pork tended to protect people from pork-borne illnesses, such as tapeworm. Similarly, other dietary controls may have been rooted in concerns about health safety. Also, there was the ancient idea that you ARE what you eat, at least up to a point. Thus, the Israeli tribesmen were eschewing some of the spiritually sick practices of those who identified with various animals.
In the New Era ushered in by Jesus, there are no spiritual reasons to avoid certain animal foods because his people have been freed. That should not be taken to mean that any type of food at all is necessarily wholesome.
WYA.4. By limiting the number of people present, Jesus kept doubt and unbelief out of his way while he focused on what needed to be done. And, Jesus did not desire personal glory, though he knew that it would be hard to contain such news. Yet, there would have been a shroud of uncertainty. The mourners may have thought they were mistaken, and that the child had not in fact died. Neighbors would have assumed that perhaps she had been ill, but had not really been dead.
Also, in those days people were buried by about three hours after death. Thus, some people who went into profound comas, but were not functionally dead, may have been inadvertently buried. Even so, the witnesses were familiar with signs of death. In any case, even if Jesus revived a child from a profound coma by simply speaking to her, that still ranks as a major miracle.
WYA.2. Mark has "the Lord" and Luke has "God." In speaking to this Gentile, Jesus was asserting the power and friendliness of the God of Israel, as opposed to Zeus or some other pagan God. Mark may have heard this report from Peter or some other eyewitness and so may have used "the Lord" in the sense that the older English translations render God's personal name as "the LORD." Luke was addressing mostly Gentiles, and so would have preferred the generic designation, "God." But we would like to pick up the connotation that Jesus was declaring the God of Israel to non-Jews, which is why I use a form of God's personal name. We have no reason to fear using God's personal name. Using his name lightly is rarely a good idea, no matter what particular designator you use.
WYA.3. In the Old Era, animals were determined as not fit to eat for various reasons. The Jewish prohibition against pork tended to protect people from pork-borne illnesses, such as tapeworm. Similarly, other dietary controls may have been rooted in concerns about health safety. Also, there was the ancient idea that you ARE what you eat, at least up to a point. Thus, the Israeli tribesmen were eschewing some of the spiritually sick practices of those who identified with various animals.
In the New Era ushered in by Jesus, there are no spiritual reasons to avoid certain animal foods because his people have been freed. That should not be taken to mean that any type of food at all is necessarily wholesome.
WYA.4. By limiting the number of people present, Jesus kept doubt and unbelief out of his way while he focused on what needed to be done. And, Jesus did not desire personal glory, though he knew that it would be hard to contain such news. Yet, there would have been a shroud of uncertainty. The mourners may have thought they were mistaken, and that the child had not in fact died. Neighbors would have assumed that perhaps she had been ill, but had not really been dead.
Also, in those days people were buried by about three hours after death. Thus, some people who went into profound comas, but were not functionally dead, may have been inadvertently buried. Even so, the witnesses were familiar with signs of death. In any case, even if Jesus revived a child from a profound coma by simply speaking to her, that still ranks as a major miracle.
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