Mark 5
In Mark 5, Jesus becomes deeply involved in people’s lives and reveals His power and compassion through three remarkable events. This chapter presents, one after another, the healing of a man possessed by the Legion of demons, the event where Jairus’s daughter is brought back to life, and the healing of a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years. Each event shares the themes of human suffering, despair, and healing and restoration through Jesus, showing that Jesus cares not only about outward problems such as sickness and death, but also about people’s inner depths and spiritual condition.
1verseThey came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2verseWhen he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
3verseHe lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
4versebecause he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
5verseAlways, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6verseWhen he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
7verseand crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
8verseFor he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9verseHe asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10verseHe begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11verseNow on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
12verseAll the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
13verseAt once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
14verseThose who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.
15verseThey came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
16verseThose who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
17verseThey began to beg him to depart from their region.
18verseAs he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
19verseHe didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.”
20verseHe went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
21verseWhen Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea.
22verseBehold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet
23verseand begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.”
24verseHe went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides.
25verseA certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
26verseand had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
27versehaving heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
28verseFor she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”
29verseImmediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30verseImmediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31verseHis disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32verseHe looked around to see her who had done this thing.
33verseBut the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34verseHe said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”
35verseWhile he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
36verseBut Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
37verseHe allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
38verseHe came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.
39verseWhen he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
40verseThey ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
41verseTaking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”
42verseImmediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
43verseHe strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
The Healing of the Man Possessed by the Legion (Verses 1-20)
Jesus goes to the region of Gerasa and meets a man who is possessed by demons, tormented while living among the tombs and bound with chains that cannot be broken. Jesus reveals that the demons’ name is “Legion” and sets him completely free. After that, the demons enter a herd of pigs and drown themselves in the sea. This incident shows that Jesus has extraordinary authority over the forces of spiritual darkness and that the recovery of one person can bring major change to an entire local community.
The Faith and Healing of the Woman with a Bleeding Disorder (Verses 21-34)
In this portion, a woman appears who had been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years. Rejected both socially and physically, she was in a state where all hope had been shattered, yet she is healed when she touches the hem of Jesus’ garment. Jesus praises her faith and proclaims recovery and peace beyond mere physical healing. This passage shows how earnest faith toward answers and Jesus’ personal concern meet together.
Raising Jairus’s Daughter to Life (Verses 35-43)
In the urgent situation where Jairus’s daughter is dying, Jesus urges him to believe. Even when people are despairing, Jesus enters the house, takes the girl’s hand, and raises her up. This event shows that even in a moment of despair, Jesus is the one who gives new hope, proclaiming that even death is under His authority.
Points to Reflect On
- We can see that Jesus does not want to remain only in healing and restoration, but also wants to set people free completely—even from their deepest despair and their spiritual captivity.
- Through the urgency and faith of each person, we can reflect on the fact that the essence of faith is not just a simple form or a matter of position, but moving toward Jesus.
- After meeting Jesus, we can also consider what changes take place in life—and whether my own life is being invited to take its place in those changes.
Apply to Me
- I can look back and ask whether I am honestly giving to Jesus the problems I have been holding on to—spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
- Even if it is my own earnestness and even a small faith, I can make a fresh resolve to have the courage to move toward Jesus.
- Just as Jesus sees people who are suffering around me, I can examine whether I also look at them with concern and love, and whether I can reach out with practical help.
