Bible Commentaries
Mark 5

Verse 1

Mark 5:1

// Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-38

Verse 2

Mark 5:2

(for Demon Possession see )

The Gadarene Demoniac

Intro: A Long Hard Day’s Work - ch. 4

We see 1) a man under bondage to evil

2) a man meeting his Savior

I. The Wonderful Lord

1) Parables of that Day (ch. 4)

2) Miracles of the sea - "Stilling the Tempest"

"What manner of man is this?" Mark 4:41

2. Illustrates: The Awful State of the Sinner - Mark 5:3-5

1) A severe state - "Legion" Mark 5:9

Matthew 8:28 No man might pass by

Luke 8:27. naked, wore no clothes

2) No human effort could help - Mark 5:3-4

3) No answer found for sin but Christ - Acts 4:12

3. The Mighty Son of God

1) Contrast the two men

2) Authority of Christ is Confessed - Mark 5:7

The demon knew Him - James 2:19

3) Compassion - His Purpose Luke 19:10;

The man’s new purpose - Mark 5:19

4) Submission - Mark 5:8; Mark 5:13

4. An illustration of Salvation

1) "What manner of man is this?" Mark 4:41

2) Peace and tranquility - Mark 5:3-4; Mark 5:15

Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22

5. The Work To Be Done After Salvation

1) Will love the Lord - Mark 5:15

2) Want to be with Him - Mark 5:18

3) Jesus has a field of work for us

a) Apostles - the other side of the sea from home

b) Where can I work? familiar territory

Andrew - Peter / Philip - Nathaniel / Barnabas - Cyprus

4) He was obedience - note results Mark 5:20

Lessons:

1) We learn about Christ’s mission.

To destroy the works of Satan - 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14-15

2) We see a Rejection and a Reception

Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep.

a) Some cared more for their possessions than their souls.

b) An amazing miracle didn’t produce faith.

c) Greed - cared more fore swine than rescue of a brother - Mark 5:16-17

3) Where shall I work?

Begin by telling the good news where we are - Mark 5:19-20

4) The concluding picture - Mark 5:21

See in our mind the royal welcome awaiting Jesus

Fishermen leaving nets, calling to friends "Christ is coming!"

Children leaving games in the street, come running!

Mothers filled with thankfulness

The people whose lives have been changed by His power

People who loved to listen eagerly to his words of wisdom and love - come running!

They could not go back to their work as thought there had been no Christ who had come to save them ...

"Jesus is coming!!" and they assembled and welcomed Him.

Verse 22

Mark 5:22

rulers of the synagogue -- It is Mark and Luke that speak of "rulers" of the synagogue, ἀρχισυναγώγων.

According to Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889 ), a Jewish scholar converted to Christiany, "Their election depended upon the choice of the congregation." "...the rulers seem to have been chosen sometime for a specific period, at others for life." (Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the Days of Christ (1876) Book 3, ch. 10)

Presumably administration of the synagogue and conduct of the synagogue service were not very formalized in New Testament times. It appears that the head or ruler of the synagogue presided over the synagogue service, maintained order (Luke 13:14), and invited visitors to address the congregation (Acts 13:15). Mark 5:22 and Acts 13:15 speak of “rulers” of the synagogue in the plural, so perhaps there was a sort of board of elders, as in modern Presbyterian or Reformed churches, with their chairman, who ran the show. There was also an “attendant” (Luke 4:20 NKJV, NRSV) or “man in charge” (Luke 4:20 CEV), a person who had charge of the synagogue, presumably a sort of trustee who looked after the building and especially its valuable or priceless copies of Scripture. (NELSON’S Bible Manners & Customs How the People of the Bible Really Lived. Howard F. Vos., NELSON PUBLISHERS, Nashville; ch. 15.2.)

Verse 41

Mark 5:41

talitha cumi ... Mark often gives us the very Aramaic words Jesus spoke. Indicative of an eye-witness. Mark always then gives the interpretation of those Aramaic words revealing to us he is writing for non-Hebrews (cf. Mark 5:41; Mark 7:34; Mark 7:11; Mark 14:36; Mark 15:34).

(These may have been times when Peter could hear again the very sound of Jesus’ voice, and could not help givin g in his sermons the very words that Jesus uttered.)