Mark 5

Listen to Mark 5

The Demons and the Pigs

1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. ^[a] ¹

2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs.

3 This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.

4 Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.

7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

8 For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked.

10 And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.

11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water. ^[b]

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, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

16 Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.

17 And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.

19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

20 So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis ^[c] how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The Healing Touch of Jesus

21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. ²

22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet

23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him.

25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this.

33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

36 But Jesus overheard ^[d] their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.

39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

40 And they laughed at Him.

41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded.

43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

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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.