Mark 5

Jesus frees a demon-possessed man

1 Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes.

2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs.

3 This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain.

4 He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one was tough enough to control him.

5 Night and day in the tombs and the hills, he would howl and cut himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him,

7 shouting, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"

8 He said this because Jesus had already commanded him, " Unclean spirit, come out of the man!"

9 Jesus asked him, " What is your name?" He responded, "Legion is my name, because we are many."

10 They pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of that region.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside.

12 "Send us into the pigs!" they begged. "Let us go into the pigs!"

13 Jesus gave them permission, so the unclean spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.

14 Those who tended the pigs ran away and told the story in the city and in the countryside. People came to see what had happened.

15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who used to be demon-possessed. They saw the very man who had been filled with many demons sitting there fully dressed and completely sane, and they were filled with awe.

16 Those who had actually seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man told the others about the pigs.

17 Then they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region.

18 While he was climbing into the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed pleaded with Jesus to let him come along as one of his disciples.

19 But Jesus wouldn't allow it. " Go home to your own people," Jesus said, " and tell them what the Lord has done for you and how he has shown you mercy."

20 The man went away and began to proclaim in the Ten Cities all that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.

Jesus heals two people

21 Jesus crossed the lake again, and on the other side a large crowd gathered around him on the shore.

22 Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, came forward. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet

23 and pleaded with him, "My daughter is about to die. Please, come and place your hands on her so that she can be healed and live."

24 So Jesus went with him. A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him.

25 A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years.

26 She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

27 Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.

28 She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I'll be healed.

29 Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed.

30 At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, " Who touched my clothes?"

31 His disciples said to him, "Don't you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'"

32 But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it.

33 The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth.

34 He responded, " Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease."

35 While Jesus was still speaking with her, messengers came from the synagogue leader's house, saying to Jairus, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?"

36 But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, " Don't be afraid; just keep trusting."

37 He didn't allow anyone to follow him except Peter, James, and John, James' brother.

38 They came to the synagogue leader's house, and he saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

39 He went in and said to them, " What's all this commotion and crying about? The child isn't dead. She's only sleeping."

40 They laughed at him, but he threw them all out. Then, taking the child's parents and his disciples with him, he went to the room where the child was.

41 Taking her hand, he said to her, " Talitha koum," which means, "Young woman, get up."

42 Suddenly the young woman got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old. They were shocked!

43 He gave them strict orders that no one should know what had happened. Then 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.