Mark 5

1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him a man of the tombs, with an unclean spirit,

3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, no, not with chains,

4 because many times he had been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been broken in pieces by him, and the fetters shattered; neither could anyone tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and hurting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him.

7 Crying out with a loud voice, he said, What hast thou with me, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion, for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send him away out of that country.

11 Now near unto the mountains there was a great herd of swine feeding,

12 and all those devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine, and the herd fell over a cliff into the sea (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea.

14 And those that fed the swine fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people went out to see what it was that had happened.

15 And they come to Jesus and see him that was tormented by the demon and had the legion sitting and clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

16 And those that saw it told them what happened to him that had the demon and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to plead with him to depart out of their borders.

18 And as he was entering into the ship, he that had been troubled by the demon besought him that he might be with him.

19 But Jesus suffered him not but said unto him, Go home to thy friends and family and tell them what great things the Lord has done with thee and how he has had mercy on thee.

20 And he went and began to publish in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done with him, and everyone marveled.

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, a great multitude gathered unto him, and he was near the sea.

22 And one of the princes of the synagogue came, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet

23 and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death; come and lay thy hands on her that she may be saved, and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and a great multitude followed him and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years

26 and had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse;

27 when she had heard of Jesus, came from behind among the multitude and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be saved.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned to the crowd and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith has made thee saved; go in peace and remain whole of thy plague.

35 While he yet spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain who said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said unto the prince of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no one to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And they came to the house of the prince of the synagogue and saw the tumult and those that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he said unto them, Why make ye this ado and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleeps.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he took the father and the mother of the damsel and those that were with him and entered in where the damsel was lying.

41 And taking the damsel by the hand, he said unto her, Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose and walked, for she was twelve years old. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no one should know it and commanded that something should be given her 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.