Mark Lesson 6

Memory verses for this week: Josh 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Introduction: We continue with our study of Mark Chapter 5. In chapter 4, Jesus taught the disciples many truths by teaching parables. We covered the parable of the sower, parable of the candle, parable of mustard seed, and a few others. We closed finding the storm coming upon the disciples as they traveled by boat across the sea. Jesus arose from his sleep and rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. They realized this was no ordinary man who could command the forces of nature.

Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

Mark 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Mark 5:3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Mark 5:4 Because 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.

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

The country of Gadara is located east of the sea of Galilee. When the disciples and Christ arrive out of the travel across the sea, the first person they come upon was this man. The man appeared to be like a crazy man because he had within him an unclean spirit. Rather than living in the city in a house, this man lived among the tombs and was so powerful that he could not be bound even by chains. Apparently, some of the people had tried to help the man, but they could do nothing with him. He was as a wild man who could not be tamed. This man was a terror and torment to himself and to all about him. Believe me, the devil is a cruel master to those that are led captive by him. Verse 5 says he was always in the mountains and in the tombs trying to destroy himself. A man possessed by a demon does not want to live. And a man or woman who doesn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior is similar to this man. They may not show the outward signs of frustration like this man, but a person still under the bonds of sin are in great torment. Many spend hundreds of dollars seeking medicine to free them from their pain. But only the living water that Jesus Christ gives freely can fill the need for a heart without God.

Mark 5:7 And 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.

Mark 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

While many in this life do not know who Jesus Christ truly is, this demon that possessed the man knew Jesus. He call him by name in verse 7 and says “Jesus, thou Son of the most high God”. The man knew he had a need, and he comes to Jesus. When Jesus comes on the scene, there is hope for those in need. Jesus looks upon this man who is possessed by the demon, and he has compassion on him. He tells the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The man tells Christ that his name is Legion, because there were many evil spirits in the man. The name Legion means “many”.

Mark 5:10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Mark 5:11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

Mark 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

Mark 5:13 And 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.

The demons make a request to Christ and ask that they would not be sent out of the country. They may have feared that Christ would send to be reserved for punishment in chains since some of Satan’s demons are already chained waiting for punishment. These demons ask to be sent into the swine.

2 Pet 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Matthew Henry in his commentary said this about the desire of the demons to enter into the swine.

The permission Christ gave them to enter into the swine, and the immediate destruction of the swine thereby; He gave them leave (v. 13), he did not forbid or restrain them, he let them do as they had a mind. Thus he would let the Gadarenes see what powerful spiteful enemies devils are, that they might thereby be induced to make him their Friend, who alone was able to control and conquer them, and had made it appear that he was so. Immediately the unclean spirits entered into the swine, which by the law were unclean creatures, and naturally love to wallow in the mire, the fittest place for them. Those that, like the swine, delight in the mire of sensual lusts, are fit habitations for Satan, and are, like Babylon, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird (Rev. 18:2), as pure souls are habitations of the Holy Spirit. The consequence of the devils entering into the swine, was, that they all ran mad presently, and ran headlong into the adjoining sea, where they were all drowned, to the number of two thousand. The man they possessed did only cut himself, for God had said, He is in your hands, only save his life. But thereby it appeared, that, if he had not been so restrained, the poor man would have drowned himself. See how much we are indebted to the providence of God, and the ministration of good angels, for our preservation from malignant spirits. [i]

Mark 5:14 And 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.

Mark 5:15 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.

Mark 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

We see the effect the demons have on the swine. They immediately flee and rush headlong into the water and drown there in the sea. It says there were like 2,000 of them. Now this was a great miracle, the possessed man now comes and is clothed and in his right mind. You’d expect there to be rejoicing and happiness about the man being delivered. But rather, when the people go and tell the city what has happened, the ask Jesus to depart from their coasts. Why was this? Plain and simple, a love of money. These swine were worth a lot of money and now they were destroyed, and it was this loss of money that moved them, not a love for the man who had been delivered. Jesus many times comes to those who do not want him in their midst, but if rejected and told to leave, he will leave you. God has never forced himself upon anyone. Those who will be saved must come willingly after the Holy Spirit draws them. Jesus died for our sins, but he can not believe for us. Each of us makes up our own minds about whether to accept or reject him as Personal Savior.

Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Luke 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Mark 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Mark 5:19 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.

Mark 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Jesus gives the man a commission. He desires to be with Christ (as do all who are saved and delivered from sin), but Jesus tells him to go home and tell his friends about what great things the Lord had done for him. And the man was obedient and went forth and published it in Decapolis. It says that all men did marvel at this miracle. While Jesus may have some follow and go directly into the ministry, I believe with all my heart that he would have all of us do what he told this man to do. We need to go and tell others about what great things the Lord has done for us. And believe me, if you are saved, your story is different than anyone else’s. Our personal testimony of what God has done is very powerful. It never replaces the gospel which must be preached, but it substantiates and proves what God will do to others if they too will come to God by faith.

Mark 5:21 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.

Mark 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

Mark 5:23 And 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.

Since the people of Gadara asked Jesus to leave, he goes across to the other side of the sea where people desired to come unto him. We see one of rulers of the synagogue, Jairus, coming and seeking Jesus to heal his daughter. When we have a child sick, there is not much worse than the feeling this brings us. How many times would you have suffered for your child if it could have been possible. But sickness comes upon us all, and in those hours we must do what this man did… come to Jesus and seek him to heal them. This man had faith… he comes humbly and falls at Jesus’ feet, and asks him to ‘lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed.’ Jesus has a powerful touch, but he can but speak the word and heal the child also.

Mark 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

This was a hectic time with people coming in from all around and thronging around Jesus. There are so many needs of people, and those in great need knew that Jesus was the one who could heal them. Before Jesus can even deal with Jairus’ daughter, this woman with the issue of blood comes to Christ. It says she had been sick with this blood issue for 12 years and had spent all of her money with doctors and was not better. Not only was she not better, but she continued to grow worse. Like Jairus, this woman had great faith and says that is she can but touch his garment, she would be made whole. This is the kind of faith that God desires for us to have. When we pray, we are to pray believing that God will answer.

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 5:29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Mark 5:31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

When the woman came, and touched the clothing of the Lord, it says she was healed immediately. Verse 29 says the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the plague. Jesus knew someone had touched him and someone had been healed, and he asked who it was. The disciples are surprised by the question since people were all around thronging him, and they know it would be almost impossible to know. But Jesus looked around to see who it was.

Mark 5:33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

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

The woman was fearful for what she had done, and she comes forth and confesses all to him. Jesus was not upset with the woman at all, but commends her, and tells her that ‘thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.’ When Jesus comes, Satan has no power over people. If it is God’s will, any disease can be removed. Nothing is too hard for our God.

Mark 5:35 While 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?

Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Mark 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Mark 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

One of the things that I think speaks well of Jairus is that while Jesus was dealing with the other lady, never did he push Jesus to go on to take care of his daughter. Sometimes we are so involved in our problems and our concerns, that we don’t have the proper care for others who are having troubles themselves. But as we will find out, the delay was only used in order to bring greater honor to the Lord.

Some of the people come and tell Jairus that he didn’t need to bother Jesus anymore. Your daughter has already died. Jesus hears what they say, and tells the ruler, “Be not afraid, only believe.” That is good advice for you and I also. So many times things come up in our lives that makes us fear, but in that hour, we need to fear not but look to the Lord for strength. Having lost my father in law in a hospital a few weeks ago, and two of my dear church sisters in the past two months at the hospital here in town, it was difficult this week to go back up the floor 5 of the Bethania Hospital each day to visit my dad when his prognosis was not good. But the Lord give me the strength, and it appears that he will get to go home in this upcoming week. (This lesson was written on March 8, 2003.)

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John (his close inner circle of friends), and they come to the house. There were many there as is the case when there is death in the family, and there is much weeping and wailing going on.

Mark 5:39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Mark 5:40 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.

Mark 5:41 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 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Mark 5:43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Jesus questions why they are so upset. He tells them the damsel is not dead but sleepeth. As you know, when we die many times it is related to sleep. But rather than take Jesus at his word, many of them laughed at the Lord. We may can laugh when someone makes a mistake in this life, but with Jesus, He never makes a mistake. These that laugh have no idea the power that this man had over life and death. Jesus goes into the girl, and raises her up. She was 12 years old, and those who saw her come up were astonished. Jesus charges them that they should not tell others about this at this time. And as always, Jesus shows his concern for the person at hand and tells them to give the girl something to eat. Never doubt that the Lord is concerned about each of us.

1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

“Talitha cumi” was an expression of the Aramaic that the little girl would have understood. It was her native tongue and I think it could be translated “Little lamb, wake up!” That’s what he said to her and that is a sweet, lovely thing. We find that our Lord raised a little girl, He raised a man in the vigor of young manhood (the widow’s son at Nain), and then probably a mature man or even a senior citizen, Lazarus. He raised them all the same way. He spoke to them!

I think this little girl represents the little folk, those little ones before they reach the age of accountability. And He said to her in this lovely way, “Little lamb, wake up.” I know right now I’m speaking to a lot of folk who have lost little ones. When we lost our first little one, what a sad thing it was for us. It’s wonderful for me to know that although she has been in His presence for many years, one of these days He’s going to speak those words again, “Little lamb, wake up!” He’ll be talking to my little lamb and to your little lamb. Then that little form that we laid away will be raised from the grave, the spirit joined to the glorified body, and we will again have our little ones some day. What a wonderful, beautiful thing this is. It is a demonstration of His power. [ii]

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Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Each act spreads, and many will be blessed.

[i]Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.

[ii]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.

Mark Chapter 05