Mark — Chapter 5

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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.

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

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

3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;

4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.

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

6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;

7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.

8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man.

9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, 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 on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.

12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, [in number] about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.

14And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.

15And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, [even] him that had the legion: and they were afraid.

16And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.

17And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.

18And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.

19And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and [how] he had mercy on thee.

20And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.

21And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea.

22And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,

23and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: [I pray thee], that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.

24And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.

25And a woman, who 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,

27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.

28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.

29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.

30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power [proceeding] from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?

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 had been done to 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, they come from the ruler of the synagogue`s [house] saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further?

36But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.

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

38And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and [many] weeping and wailing greatly.

39And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.

40And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was.

41And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.

42And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement.

43And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that [something] should be given her to eat.

1So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes.

2Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.

3He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

4For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

5Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him.

7Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God—do not torment me!”

8(For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”)

9Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

10He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region.

11There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding.

12And the demonic spirits begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.”

13Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about 2,000 were drowned in the lake.

14Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

15They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed, and in his right mind—the one who had the “Legion”—and they were afraid.

16Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs.

17Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

18As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him.

19But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.”

20So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.

21When Jesus had crossed again in a boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea.

22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.

23He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.”

24Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around him.

25Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years.

26She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse.

27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

28for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

29At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

30Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”

31His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

32But he looked around to see who had done it.

33Then the woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?”

36But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

38They came to the house of the synagogue leader where he saw noisy confusion and people weeping and wailing loudly.

39When he entered he said to them, “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep!”

40And they began making fun of him. But he forced them all outside, and he took the child’s father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was.

41Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.”

42The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.

43He strictly ordered that no one should know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.

3He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,

4because 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.

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

6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,

7and 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.”

8For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.

12All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”

13At 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.

14Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.

15They 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.

16Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.

17They began to beg him to depart from their region.

18As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.

19He 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.”

20He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.

21When 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.

22Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,

23and 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.”

24He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides.

25A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years,

26and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,

27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes.

28For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”

29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

32He looked around to see her who had done this thing.

33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”

35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”

36But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

37He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

38He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.

39When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”

40They 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.

41Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”

42Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.

43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Three dramatic miracles display Jesus' power over every domain: He casts a legion of demons into swine, heals a woman with a twelve-year hemorrhage, and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead.

Authorship & Background

Author: John Mark (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 5 demonstrates Jesus' absolute authority over three enemies of humanity: demons (the Gadarene demoniac, vv.1-20), disease (the woman with the issue of blood, vv.25-34), and death (Jairus' daughter, vv.35-43). Mark's account is the most detailed of the three synoptic versions — vivid, eyewitness details that likely came from Peter.
The Gadarene Demoniac (vv.1-20): The most extreme case of demonic possession in the Gospels. A man possessed by a "legion" of demons — naked, living among tombs, supernaturally strong, self-harming, screaming day and night. No one could help him. Jesus freed him completely with a word. The man was found "sitting, clothed, and in his right mind" (v.15).
The Woman with the Issue of Blood (vv.25-34): Twelve years of hemorrhaging — ritually unclean, socially isolated, financially ruined by doctors. She touched Jesus' garment in faith and was instantly healed. Jesus stopped, found her, and called her "Daughter" — restoring not just her body but her dignity and community.
Jairus' Daughter (vv.35-43): A synagogue ruler's 12-year-old daughter dies while Jesus is delayed by the woman. Jesus says "Be not afraid, only believe" (v.36) and raises the girl with the words "Talitha cumi" — Aramaic for "Little girl, get up." Mark preserves Jesus' actual Aramaic words — a vivid eyewitness detail.

Map & Geography

  • The country of the Gadarenes/Gerasenes (v.1): The eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the Decapolis region — Gentile territory. The demoniac lived among the tombs here.
  • The Sea of Galilee (v.13): The pigs ran down a steep bank into the sea. The eastern shore has steep cliffs descending to the water.
  • Capernaum (implied, v.21): Jesus crossed back to the western shore where Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood encountered Him.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the demoniac's condition and transformation, the townspeople's rejection of Jesus, the woman's desperate faith, and the raising of Jairus' daughter.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Legion" on vv.1-20 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 589) "Sitting, clothed, and in his right mind — that is what Christ does. He takes the most broken, most hopeless, most destroyed human being and makes him whole. No one is too far gone. No bondage is too strong. No darkness is too deep. Christ is stronger than Legion." Sermon: "The Touch of Faith" on vv.25-34 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1323) "If I may but touch His clothes — that is desperate faith. Not polished faith, not theological faith, not confident faith — desperate faith. The faith that says 'I have nothing left to try but Jesus.' And that faith is enough."

Reflection

  • 1. The demoniac was completely transformed — from naked, screaming, and self-harming to "sitting, clothed, and in his right mind" (v.15). No one is beyond Christ's power to restore. Who in your life have you given up on? What would it look like to believe Christ can transform them?
  • 2. The townspeople asked Jesus to leave (v.17) — they preferred their pigs (economic stability) to His power. Where in your life might you be choosing comfort and the status quo over what Jesus wants to do?
  • 3. The woman had tried everything for 12 years (v.26) — doctors, money, effort. Nothing worked. She was desperate enough to reach for Jesus as a last resort. Sometimes God allows us to exhaust every other option so we'll finally reach for Him. Where are you in that process?
  • 4. "Be not afraid, only believe" (v.36). Jairus received the worst news — his daughter was dead. Jesus said: don't fear, just believe. What "worst news" are you facing? Can you hear Jesus saying the same thing to you?
  • 5. Jesus told the freed demoniac "Go home and tell" (v.19) — but told others to be silent. Why the difference? The demoniac was in Gentile territory where the messianic secret didn't apply. What is your specific commission — who has God told you to tell?
  • 6. The woman touched Jesus' garment in a crowd — one touch among thousands of people pressing against Him. But Jesus knew the difference between the crowd's pressing and faith's touching (v.30). What is the difference between casual contact with Jesus and genuine faith?
  • 7. When told his daughter was dead, Jairus was told "Why trouble the Master any further?" (v.35). People will tell you it's too late, it's hopeless, don't bother God. Jesus says "Only believe." Whose voice are you listening to — the crowd's or Christ's?
  • 8. Jesus put the mourners out before raising the girl (v.40). He removed the unbelief from the room. Are there voices of unbelief in your life that you need to remove — people, media, influences that undermine your faith?
  • 9. After raising the girl, Jesus "commanded that something should be given her to eat" (v.43). Even after a miracle, He attended to practical needs. How does Jesus' attention to ordinary details encourage you about His care for the mundane aspects of your life?