Mark 5:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

NIV: When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

NASB: When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him.

CSB: As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him.

NLT: When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him.

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

NKJV: And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Mark 5:2 is a bit of a preview for verses 6–8. In Mark 3:9, Jesus had begun the habit of keeping a boat nearby when preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This allowed Him to teach without being mobbed by the horde of people seeking healing. We aren't told who owns the boat, but it is presumably the same in which Jesus napped during the storm (Mark 4:36–38) and from which He taught the parable of the sower on the western shore of the Sea (Mark 4:1).

"Unclean" is taken from the Greek root word akathartos which describes something as morally stained or not fit for ceremonial use. "Spirit" is from the Greek root word pneuma, which refers to a singular being which has independent agency but no physical form. When used together, they merely mean a demon. The demon-possessed man met Jesus immediately after running some distance (Mark 5:6). It's possible he saw Jesus before the boat had landed. Again, a demon is compelled to approach Jesus despite the danger it may face (Mark 1:23–24; 3:11).

The word "tombs" comes from the Greek root word mnemeion, from which we get the English word "monument." Specifically, it refers to a sepulcher or a sepulchral monument. Burial practices at that time involved laying the body in a larger cave until nothing remained but the bones. The bones were then placed in a stone box called an ossuary for permanent storage. Some of the larger caves would have been big enough for a person to find shelter.

Mark 5:1–13 describes Jesus' encounter with a man possessed by a vast number of demonic spirits. Jesus has shown His authority over storms during the turbulent crossing of the Sea of Galilee. In a cemetery on the eastern shore of the lake, He and the twelve meet a wild, dangerous man controlled by a ''legion'' of demons. Jesus allows the fleeing evil spirits to enter a herd of pigs which promptly run into the sea and drown. The man is grateful. The locals, either startled by Jesus' power or afraid for their livestock, promptly ask Jesus to leave. This account is also found in Luke 8:26–33 and possibly Matthew 8:28–32 which mentions two possessed men.

Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and heals a man afflicted by a ''legion'' of demons. In the aftermath of this event, Jesus once again crosses the waters within this region, known as the Decapolis. There, He is approached by a synagogue leader, begging Him to come and save a dying girl. In the midst of this trip, Jesus stops the crowd to identify a woman who attempted to covertly touch his robes; her faithful act results in healing. Jesus then continues on to the home of the synagogue leader and resurrects his recently-deceased child.

Mark 4:35—5:43 sees an increase in the scope of Jesus' miracles. He has just calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, He expels a legion of demons, heals a woman without overtly acting, and brings a girl back to life. All three situations—related to tombs, blood, and death—show Jesus bringing healing to unclean circumstances. In chapter 6, the tone of His ministry will develop. He will be rejected by those who should know Him best, He will send out His followers to do His work, and His direct link to the Old Testament prophets will be explained.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.