The Gospels · Chapter 5 of 16

Mark 5

Jesus crosses to the Gadarenes and frees a man tormented by a legion of unclean spirits, who then publishes the mercy shown him. Back across the sea, a synagogue ruler named Jairus begs for his dying daughter. On the way a woman with a long hemorrhage is healed by touching Jesus' garment. He then raises Jairus' daughter from death.

What happens in Mark 5

At the tombs a man no chains could hold runs to Jesus and cries out. The unclean spirits, named Legion, beg not to be sent away and are permitted to enter a herd of swine that rushes into the sea. The healed man sits clothed and in his right mind, and Jesus sends him home to tell how great things the Lord has done. The frightened townspeople ask Jesus to leave. Crossing back, Jairus falls at his feet for his dying daughter.

Pressed by the crowd, a woman who suffered twelve years and spent all on physicians touches Jesus' clothes and is instantly healed. Jesus feels power go out, seeks her, and tells her that her faith has made her whole. Word comes that the girl has died, but Jesus says, Be not afraid, only believe. At the house he puts out the mourners, takes the child by the hand, and says, Talitha cumi, and she rises and walks.

Mark 5 in context

These three intertwined miracles follow the storm-stilling and continue Mark's revelation of Jesus' authority, now over demons, chronic illness, and death itself. The Gadarene region is Gentile, showing his mercy reaching beyond Israel to the nations.

The nested story of the bleeding woman inside Jairus' story links two desperate people, one a synagogue ruler and one an outcast, and highlights faith that reaches out to touch Christ in the crowd.

Main themes of Mark 5

Mark 5 (KJV)

1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4Because that 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. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7And 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. 8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And 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. 14And 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. 15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. 21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23And 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 shall live. 24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. 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. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Verses to carry from Mark 5

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”Mark 5:19

“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”Mark 5:34

“And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”Mark 5:41

Reflection

Is there a part of your life you think is too far gone, too unclean, or too dead for Jesus to touch? These three came with nothing but need, and he refused none of them. Consider pressing through the crowd of your fear to reach him, trusting that his mercy runs toward the ruined.

A prayer from Mark 5