Mark 5

1 They arrived in the territory of the Gerasenes on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

2 As Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man came out of the tombs and met him. The man was controlled by an evil spirit

3 and lived among the tombs. No one could restrain him any longer, not even with a chain.

4 He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him.

5 Night and day he was among the tombs and on the mountainsides screaming and cutting himself with stones.

6 The man saw Jesus at a distance. So he ran [to Jesus], bowed down in front of him,

7 and shouted, "Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me."

8 He shouted this because Jesus said, "You evil spirit, come out of the man."

9 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He told Jesus, "My name is Legion [Six Thousand], because there are many of us."

10 He begged Jesus not to send them out of the territory.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside nearby.

12 The demons begged him, "Send us into the pigs! Let us enter them!"

13 Jesus let them do this. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned.

14 Those who took care of the pigs ran away. In the city and countryside they reported everything that had happened. So the people came to see what had happened.

15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.

16 Those who saw this told what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

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

18 As Jesus stepped into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him, "Let me stay with you."

19 But Jesus would not allow it. Instead, he told the man, "Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you."

20 So the man left. He began to tell how much Jesus had done for him in the Ten Cities. Everyone was amazed.

21 Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore.

22 A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him.

23 He begged Jesus, "My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live."

24 Jesus went with the man. A huge crowd followed Jesus and pressed him on every side.

25 In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years.

26 Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse.

27 Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched his clothes.

28 She said, "If I can just touch his clothes, I'll get well."

29 Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness.

30 At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

31 His disciples said to him, "How can you ask, 'Who touched me,' when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?"

32 But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this.

33 The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth.

34 Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness."

35 While Jesus was still speaking to her, some people came from the synagogue leader's home. They told the synagogue leader, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher anymore?"

36 When Jesus overheard what they said, he told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid! Just believe."

37 Jesus allowed no one to go with him except Peter and the two brothers James and John.

38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

39 When he came into the house, he asked them, "Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn't dead. She's just sleeping."

40 They laughed at him. So he made all of them go outside. Then he took the child's father, mother, and his three disciples and went to the child.

41 Jesus took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which means, "Little girl, I'm telling you to get up!"

42 The girl got up at once and started to walk. (She was twelve years old.) They were astonished.

43 Jesus ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give the little girl 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.