Kursi: Demon-Possessed Man Healed, Pigs Drown, Sea of Galilee, Jesus Crushes Satan's Kingdom, Israel

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Jesus crushes Satan and his demons! Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. Cast pigs into a herd of pigs, who drown in the Sea of Galilee. See the place and hear the moving story of this monumental event.

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Location
1. Kursi is the place where two demon-possessed men were healed.
2. The demons who lived in these men were cast into a herd of pigs that ran down a steep bank into the sea.
3. It took place on the east side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes or Gadarenes. This place was also called Kurshi in Hebrew and Kursy in Arabic.
4. It was in the region of the Decapolis.
5. The Decapolis was made up of 10 Roman cities that functioned like city-states. It was a region outside of Jewish authority and inhabited by Jews and Gentiles.
6. It was an immoral area that represented all that sinful humanity had to offer. Therefore, it was considered unclean to the Jews.
7. The caves where the demon-possessed men lived can be seen on the hillside above Kursi.
8. Today, this site contains the ruins of the largest Byzantine monastery complex in Israel. It dates from the middle of the 5th century and was built to commemorate what took place here.

Historical Background
1. Jesus and His disciples were coming from the Capernaum area, where Jesus had just performed many miracles and preached about the parables of the kingdom.
2. On the boat ride to this area, Jesus performed an astounding miracle of calming the sea and storm.
Matthew 8:23–27: And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"
3. This event is the most detailed account of an exorcism (casting out demons) in the Bible.
Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above)
1. Capernaum
2. Calming the storm and sea
3. Byzantine Monastery Complex
4. Tombs above Kursi
5. Beach where Jesus and His disciples arrived
6. Steep hill the pigs ran down into the sea
7. Decapolis area

Kursi in the Bible
1. Jesus and His disciples were coming from the Capernaum area, where Jesus had just performed many miracles and preached about the parables of the kingdom.
2. On the boat ride to this area, Jesus performed an astounding miracle of calming the sea and storm. Matthew 8:23–27
3. This event is the most detailed account of an exorcism (casting out demons) in the Bible.
4. When Jesus and His disciples arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, they were greeted by two demon-possessed men.
Matthew 8:28–29
5. The account of this story in Mark focuses on one of the demon-possessed men.
Mark 5:1–2: They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
6. The life of this demon-possessed man was a nightmarish living hell.
Mark 5:3–5
7. The legion of demons indwelling this man recognized who Jesus was.
Mark 5:6–9
8. Jesus cast this legion of demons into a herd of pigs who ran into the sea.
Mark 5:10–13
9. The demon-possessed man was healed, and news spread rapidly throughout the region.
Mark 5:14–17
10. Jesus sent the healed man into the Decapolis region to tell them the great things God had done for him. Mark 5:18–20

Faith Lesson from Kursi
1. The demon-possessed man was in deep bondage and torment from the host of demons who lived within him. Do we believe demonic possession is a reality?
2. Jesus showed His power over the demonic realm by casting the legion of demons into a herd of 2,000 pigs. Do we believe Christ is Lord over Satan and all demonic rulers and principalities in the universe?
3. Jesus told the demon-possessed man to go and tell others how much the Lord had done for him.
4. History records that as a result of this man’s obedience, a large community of believers was established in this area and had a great influence on the early church for many centuries.
5. One of our best tools in sharing the Gospel is just to tell others what God has done for us. Have we carefully defined our testimony, and are we committed to using it to share Christ with others?