Mark 5

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

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

3 Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 For he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any [man] tame him.

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

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

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 (For he said to 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 them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh to the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the demons 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 ran violently down a steep place into the sea (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told [it] in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the demon, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw [it] told them how it befell him that was possessed with the demon, and [also] concerning the swine.

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

18 And when he had come into the boat, he that had been possessed with the demon prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Yet Jesus suffered him not, but saith to him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him. And all [men] wondered.

21 And when Jesus had passed over again in a boat to the other side, much people gathered to him: and he was nigh to the sea.

22 And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: [I pray thee], come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she will live.

24 And [Jesus] went with him; and many people followed him, and thronged him.

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

26 And had suffered many things from many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was not relieved, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.

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

29 And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that infirmity.

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

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

32 And he looked around, 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 to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be healed of thy infirmity.

35 While he was yet speaking, 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 saith to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe,

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

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he had come in, he saith to them, Why make ye this tumult, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they derided him: but when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said to her, Talitha cumi: which is, being interpreted, Damsel (I say to thee) arise.

42 And forthwith the damsel arose, and walked; for she was [of the age] of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them strictly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

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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.