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WALKING WITH PG 27 CROSSING OVER CROSSING DECAPOLIS ROMAN THE OF REGION THE IN GALILEE, 3 PART — KURSI, ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SEA OF SEA THE OF SIDE EASTERN THE ON —KURSI, are commonly known as the as known commonly are Mountain caves in this area this in caves Mountain have healed the demoniac. location where Jesus may Jesus where location Kursi +

CROSSING OVER PG 28 ANCHOR TEXT: Before you begin this lesson, read Mark 4:35-5:20.

KURSI

Because of sin’s influence in the world, people have tended to see life in terms of two opposite sides. There’s them, and then there’s us. They don’t look like us, sound like us, or share the same values as us. People have divided this way since the days of Adam, and they were definitely divided in Jesus’ day.

Christ and His disciples lived on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, spending much of their time near the cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum (Matthew 11:21; :13). During Jesus’ PG 29 ministry, this region of Galilee was ruled

by , son of the King Herod PG 30 who tried to kill Jesus when He was a baby (Matthew 2:13). WALKING WITH JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES OVER CROSSING LIVED ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE

Herod didn’t always follow the rules— remember, this is the man confronted for marrying his own sister-in-law (Matthew 14:1-12)—but Herod still tried to maintain a safe, civilized Hebrew society in spite of all + the ’s cultural influences. Byzantine Church Tile People on this side of Galilee were good This mosaic marks the location of an Jewish folks who ate kosher food and ancient, Byzantine-era church built near actively attended the synagogue. the cave of the demoniac. The eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, on A system of caves overlooked the Sea of the other hand, was governed by Philip Galilee’s eastern shore. In those days, + the Tetrarch, Herod Antipas’ half-brother people often used caves as tombs and Across the Sea of Galilee (:1). Philip was more willing to make crypts, like Abraham who had buried Kursi sits on the eastern side of the cultural and religious compromise Sarah in one of the caves of the Sea of Galilee, opposite the Jewish region of Jesus’ day. of embracing the Roman Empire. On this (Genesis 23:19). Here, in the tombs on the side of the sea, called the Decapolis, edge of a town named or Kursi, many farmers tended to pigs, animals lived a demon-possessed man (:1). rendered unclean in the Old Testament Dwelling in the place of the dead and (Deuteronomy 14:8). The cities here also tormented by evil spirits, he cut himself housed many altars to Roman idols, with stones and screamed out violently in violating God’s express command not to the night (5:3-5). worship false gods (Exodus 20:3-6). Everybody knew this man. The cave he Many Jews believed that simply traveling inhabited overlooked a common trade through this region would cause them road. The people there tried to chain him to become impure. Nobody crossed over up so he couldn’t disturb their business to this side of the water. Nobody, that is, and their lives, but his demonic strength except Jesus. kept breaking through the chains (Mark 5:4). Of all the people in the world, this was PG 31 Just imagine the disciples’ surprise when the man who met Jesus and His disciples as

Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other they reached the other side of the sea (5:6). PG 32 side” (Mark 4:35). On the western side of the Sea of Galilee, Christ always had EVERYBODY KNEW THIS a crowd around Him—rabbis, religious MAN. THE PEOPLE THERE

WALKING WITH JESUS leaders, and people who looked and CROSSING OVER OVER CROSSING sounded like Him. But now He left the TRIED TO CHAIN HIM UP SO crowd behind, got in a boat, and HE COULDN’T DISTURB THEIR crossed over. BUSINESS AND THEIR LIVES...

After Jesus and His disciples set sail, “a furious squall” came up against the boat The demoniac may have frightened the (Mark 4:37). Usually, the Sea of Galilee local people, but he did not scare Christ. is relatively still and calm. But because Jesus, the same One who had power to of its location—680 feet below sea level still the storm, stilled this man’s restless and surrounded by hills—sometimes cool spirit and delivered him from his demonic air from the north funnels into the warm oppression (Mark 5:8). At Christ’s air over the water, causing violent and command, the evil spirits fled the man into unpredictable storms. The small fishing a nearby pig herd, causing the pigs to rush boat carrying Christ and His 12 disciples down the hillside into the sea (5:11-13). would have barely made it in one piece to the other side! But with a simple command, Jesus stilled the storm, enabling them to reach the other side safely (4:39). WALKING WITH JESUS PG 33 now he stood in their presence—changed, presence—changed, their in stood he now But near. came he time every lives their for fearing remembered carts, and horses their with cave his by passing remembered him, binding remembered They neighbors. and family his to back went man this when happened what is see don’t we What 5:20). (Mark him” for done had Jesus much how Decapolis the in tell to “began He Christ. to listened man this that reveals The east? the on guy one this help to just sea the of side west the on crowds the leave to need really just was it life—but man’s one this changed Christ Sure, stranger. single a with encounter one had Jesus after around back right turned now and storm, the in lives their way, risked this all came They time. of awaste was trip whole this thought have must disciples the Surely ways. parted they that, With 5:19). you” (Mark for done has Lord the much how them tell and people your to home “Go him, told Jesus Instead, request. his denied Christ sea. the across Jesus follow could he if asked demoniac freed the boat, His to back went Christ and leave to Jesus begged onlookers the After doing? of capable was foreigner this else what knows Who demoniac. the than more even lives their disrupted had Jesus that see only could they sea, the of side other the from stranger this of Fearful demoniac. the to granted life new and freedom the see didn’t they moment, that In 5:17). (Mark region” their leave to Jesus with plead to “began they did, Christ what saw townspeople the when Instead, Decapolis! the in out break to about was arevival imagine might you deliverance, miraculous this After his life! Did they they Did life! killed. or out cast either was Christian in temple the destroyed and Hebrews, the scattered rebels, the exterminated army Imperial the to down Mediterranean, Beginning near enough. had had Romans the and years, short afew in crushed was rebellion Their empire. aworldwide against match no were people Hebrew desperate the But government. Roman ruthless the against revolted Jews the resurrection, and death Jesus’ after years Forty gaps. the in fill to us helps History Decapolis. the of region that in people the about much say doesn’t Bible the this, After life. man’s one in done had Jesus transformation the over get couldn’t simply They 8:1-10). (Mark teaching Jesus’ hear to eager were who people 4,000 than more of acrowd but Him, with do to nothing wanted who merchants and farmers angry by approached weren’t disciples His and He time, This later. time this to return would Christ him. save to done had Jesus what about talk was do could he all person—and brand-new a free, finally FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS... HIS TO BACK WENT MAN WHAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED IS SEE DON’T WHAT WE Jerusalem Caesarea . Every Jew and and Jew . Every along the the along other side Dead Sea

some some , the , the

CROSSING OVER PG 34 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 35 the the on people us, like aren’t who people to out go to meant salvation—is and grace His of news good Gospel—the the that knew Jesus Because happen? this did Why cities. surrounding the into leaders church and missionaries sending more, and years 300 for region that in presence Gospel-proclaiming primary the became Jesus, with encounter changing alife- had who man one of testimony the of out born faith, of community the on people the survived: community one However, other side . History was changed and and changed was . History other side of the sea. This This sea. the of changed life. changed one of power the underestimate do? we Never if impact the imagine can who And us? not if them, to Gospel the take will Who gives. Jesus only that hope the them bring them—to like who’s not someone someone—even for waiting are us around all People more? something for longing and night, the of middle the in out crying tombs, own their in sitting lives, our the on are people many How 4:35). (Mark side” other the to over go us “Let said, Jesus because all transformed, were lives of thousands other side

of of OF ONE CHANGED LIFE. CHANGED ONE OF POWER THE UNDERESTIMATE NEVER

CROSSING OVER PG 36 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 37 Byzantine period. Byzantine the into leaders church and missionaries many out sent that community Christian the represent demoniac’s cave, these ruins the of shadow the in Built Monastery 5th-Century +

CROSSING OVER PG 38 DIVE DEEPER

1 The Sea of Galilee was a dividing line 5 After healing the demon-possessed man, between the Jewish west and the Roman Jesus told him to “Go home to your own east. How would you define theother side people and tell them everything the Lord in your life? has done for you” (Mark. 5:19). Centuries later, that community became the main 2 What would it look like for you to take the Gospel-sending presence in the region. Gospel to people who aren't like you? Can you give a personal example of one changed life that has affected 3 Jesus and the disciples encountered a countless others? storm on their journey. What are some obstacles, discouragements, fears, and 6 What is one conversation you need to challenges you’ve faced when going to have with someone this week? How can the other side? you more actively share the Gospel?

4 When Jesus got out of the boat, the Chorazin demon-possessed man living in the burial caves ran to meet Him. What

PG 39 Bethsaida things have you noticed tend to hold Capernaum people in bondage? Was there a time PG 40 when you felt trapped in a cave? Magdala Sea of Galilee EXTRA INFO WALKING WITH JESUS Tiberias OVER CROSSING One of the reasons the community around Kursi survived the Roman Empire’s extermination and expulsion of the Jews was its location on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Another reason was Nazareth that the Romans did not associate the Decapolis with the stereotype of the rebellious Hebrews. God used these two things—the things that marked these people as untouchable—to save their lives and give them the space where they could spread the Gospel and impact history.

In Mark 5:9, the demoniac called himself by the name of “,” referring to the army of demons that oppressed him. Stationed in that area of the Gerasenes were a number of Roman legions, including the legendary Tenth Fretensis. The Tenth Legion was the same group of soldiers who put Caesar Augustus on the throne, and their mascot was a pig—a boar with tusks.

When Jesus cast the legion of demons into a herd of pigs, He wasn’t just displaying His power over evil spirits. This was also a statement that Jesus’ Kingdom is greater than any empire of our world. His power was proven not only in His own life, but also in the lives of the community of Christians that formed in this region. Their Gospel-spreading influence outlasted the crumbling Roman Empire and stands as a testament to Christ’s power today.