Mark 5

Jesus Heals a Man Controlled by Demons

1 They went across the Sea of Galilee to the area of the Gerasenes.

2 Jesus got out of the boat. A man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

3 The man lived in the tombs. No one could keep him tied up anymore. Not even a chain could hold him.

4 His hands and feet had often been chained. But he tore the chains apart. And he broke the iron cuffs on his ankles. No one was strong enough to control him.

5 Night and day he screamed among the tombs and in the hills. He cut himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran to him. He fell on his knees in front of him.

7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? Promise before God that you won't hurt me!"

8 This was because Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

9 Then Jesus asked the demon, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied. "There are many of us."

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. Let us go into them."

13 Jesus allowed it. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. There were about 2,000 pigs in the herd. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.

14 Those who were tending the pigs ran off. They told the people in the town and countryside what had happened. The people went out to see for themselves.

15 Then they came to Jesus. They saw the man who had been controlled by many demons. He was sitting there. He was now dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid.

16 Those who had seen it told them what had happened to the man. They told about the pigs as well.

17 Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area.

18 Jesus was getting into the boat. The man who had been controlled by demons begged to go with him.

19 Jesus did not let him. He said, "Go home to your family. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you. Tell them how kind he has been to you."

20 So the man went away. In the area known as the Ten Cities, he began to tell how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman

21 Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. It landed at the other side. There a large crowd gathered around him.

22 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet.

23 He begged Jesus, "Please come. My little daughter is dying. Place your hands on her to heal her. Then she will live."

24 So Jesus went with him. A large group of people followed. They crowded around him.

25 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years.

26 She had suffered a great deal, even though she had gone to many doctors. She had spent all the money she had. But she was getting worse, not better.

27 Then she heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.

28 She thought, "I just need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed."

29 Right away her bleeding stopped. She felt in her body that her suffering was over.

30 At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd. He asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

31 "You see the people," his disciples answered. "They are crowding against you. And you still ask, 'Who touched me?' "

32 But Jesus kept looking around. He wanted to see who had touched him.

33 Then the woman came and fell at his feet. She knew what had happened to her. She was shaking with fear. But she told him the whole truth.

34 He said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering."

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus. He was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"

36 But Jesus didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."

37 He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him.

38 They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

39 He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping."

40 But they laughed at him. He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was.

41 He took her by the hand. Then he said to her, ""Talitha koum!"" This means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"

42 The girl was 12 years old. Right away she stood up and walked around. They were totally amazed at this.

43 Jesus gave strict orders not to let anyone know what had happened. And he told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The demoniac healed. (1-20) A woman healed. (21-34) The daughter of Jairus raised. (35-43)

Verses 1-20 Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion in one poor wretched creature! Many there are that rise up against us. We are not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the Lord, and in the power of his might, we shall be able to stand against them, though there are legions of them. When the vilest transgressor is delivered by the power of Jesus from the bondage of Satan, he will gladly sit at the feet of his Deliverer, and hear his word, who delivers the wretched slaves of Satan, and numbers them among his saints and servants. When the people found that their swine were lost, they had a dislike to Christ. Long-suffering and mercy may be seen, even in the corrections by which men lose their property while their lives are saved, and warning given them to seek the salvation of their souls. The man joyfully proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him. All men marvelled, but few followed him. Many who cannot but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him.

Verses 21-34 A despised gospel will go where it will be better received. One of the rulers of a synagogue earnestly besought Christ for a little daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. Another cure was wrought by the way. We should do good, not only when in the house, but when we walk by the way, De. 6:7 . It is common with people not to apply to Christ till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. Some run to diversions and gay company; others plunge into business, or even into intemperance; others go about to establish their own righteousness, or torment themselves by vain superstitions. Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus. The woman told all the truth. It is the will of Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend on Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find in ourselves that he is become our salvation. Those who, by faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go in peace.

Verses 35-43 We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.