Mark 5

1 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes.

2 As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him.

3 He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him - he couldn't be chained, couldn't be tied down.

4 He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him.

5 Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones.

6 When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him -

7 then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!"

8 (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!")

9 Jesus asked him, "Tell me your name."

10 Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country.

11 A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill.

12 The demons begged him, "Send us to the pigs so we can live in them."

13 Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.

14 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened.

15 They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.

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

17 At first they were in awe - and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along,

19 but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. Tell them your story - what the Master did, how he had mercy on you."

20 The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

21 After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside.

22 One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees,

23 beside himself as he begged, "My dear daughter is at death's door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live."

24 Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him.

25 A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years -

26 a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before -

27 had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe.

28 She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well."

29 The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with.

30 At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?"

31 His disciples said, "What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you're asking, 'Who touched me?' Dozens have touched you!"

32 But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it.

33 The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.

34 Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague."

35 While he was still talking, some people came from the leader's house and told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"

36 Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, "Don't listen to them; just trust me."

37 He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John.

38 They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles.

39 Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."

40 Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.

41 He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, get up."

42 At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy.

43 He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, "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.