Mark 5:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.

NIV: When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.

NASB: When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He stayed by the seashore.

CSB: When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea.

NLT: Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.

Jesus and the disciples had escaped the crowd on the western, Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee and were met by a man possessed by a legion of demons on the eastern, Gentile side. After Jesus healed the man, the people from the surrounding area, terrified by His power, begged Him to leave (Mark 5:1–20).

One of the reasons Jesus had left previously faces Him once again: a crowd that threatens to mob Him or push Him into the Sea (Mark 3:7–10; 4:1, 4:35–36). Although some want to gather around quietly and listen to His teaching (Mark 3:31–35), most want relief from their physical and spiritual ailments.

In the Bible, God powers His prophets to perform miracles to validate their status as His spokesmen. We see this with Elisha, when he raises the Shunammite woman's son (2 Kings 4:18–37), with Peter when he heals a lame beggar (Acts 3:1–10), and with Paul on several occasions (for example, Acts 14:8–18; 16:16–18; 19:11–12). But while healing provided by God is meant as a loving, merciful blessing, it is always meant to be a means of supporting His message, not healing for the sake of healing.

The Jews understand this to some extent, but they misunderstand the message that the miracles authenticate. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, come to restore Israel and bring them back to God. But not yet. First He must do the hard work—the crucifixion and resurrection—of providing the means of restoration. Then the news of that work must spread throughout the world. Only after that can the Jews see the great prophecies of the Old Testament come to life.

We need this reminder as well. The miracle is not the message. Healing is a gift, but healing on earth is not the point. God wants our hearts turned to Him. He wants us to turn our attention to Jesus' teaching. Only then can we be fully healed.

Mark 5:21–24 describes a synagogue leader, Jairus, asking Jesus to heal his daughter. After freeing a man who is possessed by a legion of demons, Jesus and the disciples return to the Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is again met by a mob seeking healing. The story of Jesus resurrecting this synagogue leader's daughter is divided by the account of the healing of a woman with an issue of blood (Mark 5:25–34). This literary device leads us to compare the honorable leader and his beloved daughter to the unclean, destitute, and most likely abandoned woman. It also shows us that to Jesus, there is no difference. This incident is also described in Matthew 9:18–19 and Luke 8:40–42.

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.