Mark 5

1 And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes,

2 and he having come forth out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 who had his dwelling in the tombs, and not even with chains was any one able to bind him,

4 because that he many times with fetters and chains had been bound, and pulled in pieces by him had been the chains, and the fetters broken in pieces, and none was able to tame him,

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

6 And, having seen Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed before him,

7 and having called with a loud voice, he said, `What -- to me and to thee, Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I adjure thee by God, mayest thou not afflict me!'

8 (for he said to him, `Come forth, spirit unclean, out of the man,')

9 and he was questioning him, `What [is] thy name?' and he answered, saying, `Legion [is] my name, because we are many;'

10 and he was calling on him much, that he may not send them out of the region.

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

12 and all the demons did call upon him, saying, `Send us to the swine, that into them we may enter;'

13 and immediately Jesus gave them leave, and having come forth, the unclean spirits did enter into the swine, and the herd did rush down the steep place to the sea -- and they were about two thousand -- and they were choked in the sea.

14 And those feeding the swine did flee, and told in the city, and in the fields, and they came forth to see what it is that hath been done;

15 and they come unto Jesus, and see the demoniac, sitting, and clothed, and right-minded -- him having had the legion -- and they were afraid;

16 and those having seen [it], declared to them how it had come to pass to the demoniac, and about the swine;

17 and they began to call upon him to go away from their borders.

18 And he having gone into the boat, the demoniac was calling on him that he may be with him,

19 and Jesus did not suffer him, but saith to him, `Go away to thy house, unto thine own [friends], and tell them how great things the Lord did to thee, and dealt kindly with thee;

20 and he went away, and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how great things Jesus did to him, and all were wondering.

21 And Jesus having passed over in the boat again to the other side, there was gathered a great multitude to him, and he was near the sea,

22 and lo, there doth come one of the chiefs of the synagogue, by name Jairus, and having seen him, he doth fall at his feet,

23 and he was calling upon him much, saying -- `My little daughter is at the last extremity -- that having come, thou mayest lay on her [thy] hands, so that she may be saved, and she shall live;'

24 and he went away with him. And there was following him a great multitude, and they were thronging him,

25 and a certain woman, having an issue of blood twelve years,

26 and many things having suffered under many physicians, and having spent all that she had, and having profited nothing, but rather having come to the worse,

27 having heard about Jesus, having come in the multitude behind, she touched his garment,

28 for she said -- `If even his garments I may touch, I shall be saved;'

29 and immediately was the fountain of her blood dried up, and she knew in the body that she hath been healed of the plague.

30 And immediately Jesus having known in himself that out of him power had gone forth, having turned about in the multitude, said, `Who did touch my garments?'

31 and his disciples said to him, `Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and thou sayest, `Who did touch me!'

32 And he was looking round to see her who did this,

33 and the woman, having been afraid, and trembling, knowing what was done on her, came, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth,

34 and he said to her, `Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go away in peace, and be whole from thy plague.'

35 As he is yet speaking, there come from the chief of the synagogue's [house, certain], saying -- `Thy daughter did die, why still dost thou harass the Teacher?'

36 And Jesus immediately, having heard the word that is spoken, saith to the chief of the synagogue, `Be not afraid, only believe.'

37 And he did not suffer any one to follow with him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James;

38 and he cometh to the house of the chief of the synagogue, and seeth a tumult, much weeping and wailing;

39 and having gone in he saith to them, `Why do ye make a tumult, and weep? the child did not die, but doth sleep;

40 and they were laughing at him. And he, having put all forth, doth take the father of the child, and the mother, and those with him, and goeth in where the child is lying,

41 and, having taken the hand of the child, he saith to her, `Talitha cumi;' which is, being interpreted, `Damsel (I say to thee), arise.'

42 And immediately the damsel arose, and was walking, for she was twelve years [old]; and they were amazed with a great amazement,

43 and he charged them much, that no one may know this thing, and he said that there be given to 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.