Mark 5
Luke 5 covers several important events from the early period of Jesus’ public ministry. Through the calling of the disciples, the healing of the sick, the incident of forgiveness of sins, and conflicts with the established religious system, it shows the essence and direction of Jesus’ mission. In particular, Jesus does not remain merely a performer of miracles or a teacher; he gradually reveals his identity as the Savior who came to call sinners. This chapter makes it possible to reflect deeply on the themes of “obedience,” “calling,” and “newness.”
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 Calling of the Disciples and the Miracle of the Fish (Verses 1–11)
After Jesus teaches the crowds by the Sea of Galilee and uses Simon’s boat to instruct them, he goes out into deeper water and commands them to lower the nets. Even though Simon had not caught fish all night, he obeyed Jesus’ word, and the result was a wondrous catch of fish. This scene demonstrates obedience to the word and, as a result, an abundant response. In particular, through this miracle Simon realizes that he is a sinner; he responds to Jesus’ calling, leaves everything behind, and follows him.
The Cleansing of the Leper and Jesus’ Quiet Service (Verses 12–16)
A leper comes to Jesus and begs him to make him clean. Jesus reaches out his hand, touches him, and immediately the leprosy is healed. At the time, contact with a leper was forbidden by the law, but Jesus crosses that boundary with a heart of compassion toward the suffering. He tells the person who has been healed to go to the priest and offer a sacrifice according to the law, and he urges him not to spread his reputation. This shows Jesus’ attitude of humble and discreet ministry.
The Faith of the Paralyzed Man and the Incident of Forgiveness of Sins (Verses 17–26)
The scene in which the friends break through the roof and lower the paralyzed man in front of Jesus shows their earnest faith. Jesus first forgives the man’s sins, and then heals his physical condition. This reveals that Jesus deals with the deeper problem within human life—the issue of sin—before addressing physical illness. At the time, the Pharisees and teachers of the law believed that the authority to forgive sins belonged to God alone, so they regarded Jesus’ actions as blasphemy. However, Jesus reveals his identity as the Son of God by proving his authority.
The Calling of Levi and a Meal with Tax Collectors and Sinners (Verses 27–32)
Jesus calls Levi the tax collector, and he leaves everything behind and follows Jesus. Levi holds a great banquet for Jesus, and many tax collectors and sinners eat together with him. The Pharisees raise objections, but Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He adds that he has come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This makes clear that Jesus’ ministry targets those who need repentance rather than those who are considered righteous by the law.
The Debate About Fasting and the Parable of New Wine (Verses 33–39)
When asked why Jesus’ disciples do not fast, Jesus says that they cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, because it is a time of joy. Then, through the parables of new clothes and old clothes, and new wine and old wineskins, he explains that the gospel he brings cannot simply be blended with the existing religious system. In a new age, something new is needed—emphasizing the newness and flexibility of the gospel.
Meditation Points
- Jesus’ Calling: The way Jesus chooses ordinary fishermen and a tax collector as his disciples makes us look at ourselves today. How am I responding to that calling?
- The Miracle of Obedience: God’s response that appears when we obey his word goes beyond anything we can imagine. How fully am I obeying before the word?
- The Problem of Sin: The fact that Jesus forgives sins before healing the illness shows a solution to our fundamental problem. Am I honestly bringing the sin within me before Jesus?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- What sins do I need to lay before Jesus? Like the paralyzed man, I need a heart that comes to him and begs for forgiveness of sins.
- Am I also bringing others to Jesus? Just as the friends carried the paralyzed man to Jesus, am I approaching with faith for someone else’s soul?
- Am I confining the new gospel in an old framework? Jesus’ new wine must be put into new wineskins. How flexibly and newly am I receiving the gospel?
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