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Mark Chapter Five

 

Mark 5

But, in another sense, they are not with Him. They are called to serve, when He quits the scene of His labour. We learn this from the demoniac Legion (chap. 5), delivered from his miserable condition. Man-and Israel in particular-was completely under the power of the enemy. Christ, as to the work of His power, completely delivered the one in whose behalf this power was exercised. He is clothed-not naked-in his right mind, and sitting at the feet of Jesus to hear His words. But the people of the place are afraid, and send Jesus away-what the world has done with Christ; and in the history of the herd of swine we have the picture of Israel after the remnant has been healed. They are unclean, and Satan drives them to destruction. Now, when Jesus departs, he who had personally experienced the mighty effects of His love would have liked to be with Him; but he was to go home and bear testimony to those around him of all that Jesus had done. He was to serve in the absence of Jesus. In all these narratives we see the work and the devotedness of the Servant, but at the same time the divine power of Jesus manifested in this service.

In the circumstances that follow the cure of the demoniac, we find the true position of Jesus portrayed in His work. He is called upon to heal the daughter of Jairus-even as He came to heal the Jews, had that been possible. As He went toward the house of Jairus to perform this work, a poor incurable woman touches the hem of His garment with faith, and is instantly healed. This was the case with Jesus during His passage among the Jews. In the multitude that surrounded Him, some souls through grace touched Him by faith. In truth, their disease was in itself incurable; but Jesus had life in Himself according to the power of God, and faith drew out its virtue by touching Him. Such are brought to acknowledge their condition, but they are healed. Outwardly He was in the midst of all Israel-faith reaped the benefit in the sense of its own need and of the glory of His Person. Now, with respect to the one who was the object of His journey, remedy was unavailing. Jesus finds her dead, but does not miss the object of His journey. He raises her again, for He can give life. Thus too with respect to Israel. On the way, those who had faith in Jesus were healed, incurable as they were in themselves; but in fact, as to Israel, the nation was dead in trespasses and sins. Apparently this put a stop to the work of Jesus. But grace will restore life to Israel in the end. We see the perfect grace of Jesus intercepting the effect of the bad tidings brought from the ruler's house. He says to Jairus, as soon as the messenger has told him of his daughter's death, and the inutility of troubling the Master any farther, "Be not afraid, only believe." In effect, although the Lord restores life to a dead Israel in the end of the ages, nevertheless it is by faith that it takes place. The case of the poor woman, although in its direct application it does not go beyond the Jews, yet applies in principle to the healing of every Gentile who, through grace, is brought to touch Jesus by faith.

This history then gives the character of His service, the manner in which-on account of man's condition-it had to be accomplished.

── John DarbySynopsis of Mark

 

Mark 5

Chapter Contents

The demoniac healed. (1-20) A woman healed. (21-34) The daughter of Jairus raised. (35-43)

Commentary on Mark 5:1-20

(Read Mark 5:1-20)

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.

Commentary on Mark 5:21-34

(Read Mark 5:21-34)

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, Deuteronomy 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.

Commentary on Mark 5:35-43

(Read Mark 5:35-43)

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.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Mark

 

Mark 5

Verse 1

[1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:26.

Verse 2

[2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

There met him a man with an unclean spirit — St. Matthew mentions two. Probably this, so particularly spoken of here, was the most remarkably fierce and ungovernable.

Verse 9

[9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

My name is Legion! for we are many — But all these seem to have been under one commander, who accordingly speaks all along, both for them and himself.

Verse 15

[15] And 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.

And they were afraid — It is not improbable they might otherwise have offered some rudeness, if not violence.

Verse 18

[18] And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Matthew 9:1; Luke 8:37;

Verse 19

[19] 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.

Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee — This was peculiarly needful there, where Christ did not go in person.

Verse 20

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

He published in Decapolis — Not only at home, but in all that country where Jesus himself did not come.

Verse 21

[21] And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

Luke 8:40.

Verse 22

[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,

One of the rulers of the synagogue — To regulate the affairs of every synagogue, there was a council of grave men. Over these was a president, who was termed the ruler of the synagogue. Sometimes there was no more than one ruler in a synagogue. Matthew 9:18; Luke 8:41.

Verse 25

[25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

Matthew 9:20; Luke 8:43.

Verse 37

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

John, the brother of James — When St. Mark wrote, not long after our Lord's ascension, the memory of St. James, lately beheaded, was so fresh, that his name was more known than that of John himself.

Verse 40

[40] And 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.

Them that were with him — Peter, James, and John.

Verse 43

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

He charged them that no man should know it — That he might avoid every appearance of vain glory, might prevent too great a concourse of people, and might not farther enrage the scribes and Pharisees against him; the time for his death, and for the full manifestation of his glory, being not yet come.

He commanded something should be given her to eat — So that when either natural or spiritual life is restored, even by immediate miracle, all proper means are to be used in order to preserve it.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Mark

 

Chapter 5. Three Amazing Signs

Only Believe
Do Not Be Afraid

I. Deliver a Demon-possessed Man

  1. Live Among the Tombs
  2. Get Clothed
  3. Proclaim Jesus

II. Deliver a Bleeding Woman

  1. Spend All She Has
  2. Touch His Garment
  3. Testify Jesus

III. Deliver Jairus' Daughter

  1. Beg Jesus Earnestly
  2. Take Her by the Hand
  3. Give Her Something to Eat
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament