Umm Qays “Gadara”
Formerly the city of Gadara, Umm Qais overlooks the Sea of Galilee. This is the place where Jesus taught the people about the Kingdom of God and performed his miracles. The old Decapolis city of Gadara (modern-day Umm Qays) boasts spectacular panoramic views overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It is here that Jesus performed the miracle of the Gadarene swine, casting spirits out of a demented man and into a herd of pigs, which then ran down the hill into the waters of the Sea of Galilee and drowned.
Umm Qays is a spectacular destination, acombination of Ancient Graeco-Roman ruins intertwined with houses of an Ottoman village. Many of the structures of Umm Qays are built with black basalt stone, giving the city a grand and unique feel.
During the time of the New Testament, northern Jordan was the region of the Roman Decapolis (meaning ‘ten cities’ in Greek). Formerly the city of Gadara, Umm Qais overlooks the Sea of Galilee. This is the placewhere Jesus taught the people about the Kingdom of God and performed his miracles. The old Decapolis city of Gadara (modern-day Umm Qays) boasts spectacular panoramic views overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
Gadara became famous for being home to the famous miracle of the pigs performed by Jesus. As said in the Bible, after having crossed the Sea of Galilee, Jesus arrived at Gadara, finding a man possessed by a legion of demons who terrorized the city. Jesus ordered the demons to leave the body of the man and transfer themselves to the body of pigs that grazed on the hills. It was told there was about two thousand pigs there. After his command, the demons entered the pigs and then suddenly ran down the hills, at last drowning themselves in the sea, freeing the city and the possessed man from the subjection of the demons.
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
A rare five-aisled basilica from the 4th century was recently discovered and excavated at Umm Qays. From the interior church, one can spy a Roman-Byzantine tomb over which the church was built. Such a distinctive architectural arrangement strongly indicates that it was built to commemorate the very spot where the Byzantine faithful believed that Jesus performed his miracle. A visitor standing at the junction of Syria, Israel and Jordan can enjoy a stunning view of Lake Tiberius and The Golan Heights.
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