Mark 5 - Printer Friendly

What does Mark 5 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

The last story included in chapter 4 combines with all of Mark chapter 5 to reveal that Jesus is even more powerful than the twelve imagined. They have reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee, after Jesus displayed His authority over a fierce storm which threatened to capsize the boat. The twelve are so amazed they ask, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41). In Mark 5, they will learn more about His power as He performs familiar miracles with an even greater scope.

The first miracle recorded by Mark was the release of a man possessed by a demon (Mark 1:21–27). Since that time, Jesus has performed many exorcisms around Capernaum (Mark 1:32–34). As Jesus and the twelve arrive on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, they are met by a man possessed not by one demon, but by a "legion." In the Roman army, a legion consisted of 5120 soldiers; although we don't know the exact number of demons, it is considerable (Mark 5:1–9).

Jesus expels the demons and allows them to enter a herd of pigs, which promptly run into the sea and drown. The nearby townspeople are so distraught they beg Jesus to leave immediately. Although the recently-rescued man wishes to travel with Jesus, Jesus tells him to stay and explain to his friends what has happened. This acts as a kind of target-softening; the next time Mark records Jesus in the area, the people welcome Him and His miracles (Mark 7:31–37). The testimony of the freed man, it seems, will go a long way to making his neighbors receptive to the gospel (Mark 5:11–20).

The most common type of miracle Jesus performed, however, was healing. From Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:30–31) to the paralytic (Mark 2:1–12), to a couple of different crowds (Mark 1:32–34; Mark 3:7–12), Jesus healed many in the area around Capernaum. Here, however, the healings are unique.

Although Jesus frequently sparred with the Pharisees and their scribes, needs often outweigh pride. Back on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus meets one of the rulers of the synagogue whose daughter lies dying. The man begs Jesus to come to his house to heal the girl, and Jesus obliges (Mark 5:21–24).

Before Jesus gets far, however, He feels power going out of Him. He discovers that a woman who suffers from chronic bleeding has had the courage to touch His robe in faith, hoping she will be healed. When she realizes Jesus knows what she did, she is understandably frightened. A woman—a woman with an issue of blood who was therefore considered unclean—touching a rabbi was unheard of. She rightly expects Jesus to be angry despite the deliverance she senses she has received. To her surprise, He calls her "daughter," praises her faith, and blesses her. For the first noted time, Jesus heals with no overt intent; the woman and her faith call on His power and she is healed (Mark 5:25–34).

At this moment, word reaches the synagogue leader that his daughter has died. Jesus assures the man that she has merely fallen asleep, and continues on to the mourning father's house. There, all indications are that she has really passed away. Jesus takes the girl's parents and three of His followers to the girl's bed and brings her back to life. Not only has Jesus healed, He has brought life where there had been none (Mark 5:35–43).

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.

Mark 5:14–20 details the aftermath of Jesus freeing a possessed man from a legion of demons. The released demons entered into a herd of pigs, which ran into the Sea of Galilee and drowned. In response, the local villagers beg Jesus to leave, and Jesus obliges. The man, however, wants to follow. Jesus tells him to stay and spread the word of what he's experienced. When Jesus next travels through the area, the man's message leads to a much warmer welcome (Mark 7:31–37). You can also read this account in Luke 8:34–39 and possibly Matthew 8:33–34, although Matthew's story records two possessed men.

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.

Mark 5:25–34 interrupts a depiction of Jesus healing a synagogue leader's daughter. Before He can get through the crowd, He feels power flowing out of Him. A woman who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years touches His robe and God heals her. This passage shows that God is sovereign over our distractions; He will sometimes give us important work in the midst of other tasks. It also shows that we are not a nuisance to Him. He always has time for us. This account is also found in Matthew 9:20–22 and Luke 8:43–48.

Mark 5:35–43 returns to Jesus' encounter with a synagogue leader and his ailing daughter, after pausing to describe Jesus healing a woman who had suffered for years with a debilitating hemorrhage. The scope of Jesus' power and authority has built to this moment. He controlled a fierce storm (Mark 4:35–41), expelled a legion of demons (Mark 5:1–13), and healed a chronically ill woman without even trying (Mark 5:25–34). Now He will raise the dead. This is the first of three times Jesus is recorded as raising the dead (John 11:1–44; Luke 7:11–17). Despite this display, Jesus will soon go to His hometown of Nazareth where He will be rejected by the people who have known Him longest. This account can also be found in Matthew 9:23–26 and Luke 8:49–56.

Chapter Summary:

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.

Chapter Context:

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 3:14:40 AM