Bible Commentaries
Mark 5

Verses 1-20

The Healing of the Gadarene Demoniac (Matthew 8:28-34 , Luke 8:26-39 ) Mark 5:1-20 tells us the remarkable story of the healing of the Gadarene demoniac as a testimony of Jesus’ authority over the spirit realm. I believe Mark and the other Synoptic Gospels record this particular miracle because it showed how Jesus was able to heal the worst cases of demonic bondage. Jesus cast out many demons on many occasions, but probably few stories were as dramatic as the healing of the Gadarene demoniac.

Comparison of Parallel Passages - When we compare Mark’s account to the other Synoptic Gospels, we see that Mark’s account is the longest of the three. Mark gives the longest account of the behaviour and lifestyle of the demoniac before his deliverance and the longest account of his deliverance. We also see from the longer accounts of Mark and Luke how the Gospel of Jesus Christ was spread by those whom He had delivered.

Mark 5:9 “And he asked him, What is thy name?” - Comments We see the demon acknowledging Jesus as the Son of the Most High God in Mark 5:7. Yet, Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, asks the demon to reveal his name. We must ask the question, “Did not Jesus Christ, the Son of God, know all things?” The answer is that Jesus asked because He did not know. Thus, we see how Jesus, the eternal God, divested Himself of some of His divine attributes in order to become a man. In other words, Jesus Christ laid aside certain privileges and restricted Himself to certain human limitations This is what Paul meant in Philippians 2:7, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Thus, Jesus was not all-knowing, or omniscient, as His is now and was before His divine incarnation.

Mark 5:17 Comments Note that Jesus did not enter into their cities of this region to teach. They would not have received His word in Decapolis (verse 20). But Jesus was able to leave a witness of Himself through the miracle of healing a demoniac. The people of this region could not deny the power of the Gospel to heal and as a divine message sent from God to them. Thus, they were now accountable for what they had heard. This fact becomes more sobering when we read in Matthew 11:20-24 what Jesus said about those cities that rejected the Gospel; for they will be judged because of it on the Day of Judgment.

Matthew 11:20-24, “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”

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 5:19 Comments In Mark 1:43-44 Jesus told the man healed of leprosy not to tell anyone about his healing. Now in Mark 5:19 Jesus tells the man to go and tell everyone about his healing. The reason is that Jesus has plenty of opportunity to move about Galilee preaching and teaching the people; but the testimony of the healed leper made His movement difficult (Mark 1:45). For the same reason, Jesus tells Jarius and his family not to tell anyone about his daughter’s healing (Mark 5:43). In contrast, Jesus was asked to depart from Gadera, leaving the man delivered from demons as the sole testimony of Jesus’ grace and power in Decapolis (Mark 5:20). For this reason, Jesus told him to go and testify about his healing.

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.

Verses 1-43

Divine Service In Mark 4:35 to Mark 6:13 the emphasis moves from indoctrination through preaching the Word of God to preparing the Twelve for divine service, where Jesus begins to train to His disciples about the Kingdom of God. Jesus first trains the Twelve by example (Mark 4:35 to Mark 5:43), then He sends them out preach and heal for themselves (Mark 6:1-13).

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. Narrative: Demonstrating Preaching & Miracles Mark 4:35 to Mark 5:43

2. Sermon: Jesus Sends Forth His Disciples to Preach Mark 6:1-13

Verses 21-43

Jarius’ Daughter and the Woman with the Issue of Blood (Matthew 9:18-26 , Luke 8:40-56 ) Mark 5:21-43 gives us the moving account of the healing of Jarius’ daughter and of the woman with the issue of blood as a testimony of Jesus’ authority over sickness and sin. It becomes obvious when reading this story that both Jarius and the woman had heard of the fame of Jesus and His marvelous healing power and had come to seek healing because of these reports.

Mark 5:23 Comments In the Greek text, the phrase “at the point of death” reads, “is at her last,” or, “is at the end (of her life).” In other words, the father saw the progression of his child’s illness and knew that she was near the point of death.

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

Mark 5:25-34 Comments Leviticus 15:25-30 gives us the laws regarding the issues of blood. The Mosaic Law required her to separate herself.

Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

Mark 5:25 Scripture References - Note parallel passages:

Matthew 9:20, “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:”

Luke 8:43, “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,”

Mark 5:28 Comments The woman with the issue of blood had heard about people being healed by touching the garments of Jesus, for we see in Mark 6:56 and in Luke 6:19 that many people were being healed by this method.

Mark 6:56, “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”

Luke 6:19, “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”

This healing by touching the garment of Jesus is similar to the healings in Acts 19:12 as many were healed who touched the garments from Paul’s body.

Acts 19:12, “So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”

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 5:30 Comments The Greek word translated “virtue” in Mark 5:30 is δυ ́ ναμις , which is translated “power” in some modern English versions (such as ASV, CEV, ESV, RSV). Therefore, we see that the power, or anointing of God, went forth from Jesus to heal the woman. Jesus touched those who needed healing as a means of imparting the power of the Holy Spirit to heal. Jesus appeared to Kenneth Hagin and gave him a special healing anointing by touching the palms of his hands with Jesus’ finger. Kenneth Hagin says that when he laid hands upon someone, he could feel the anointing flow through him and into the individual if the person believed. If the person was doubting, then the anointing would not flow. [101]

[101] Kenneth Hagin, A Commonsense Guide to Fasting (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1981, 1994), 21-2; Kenneth Hagin, I Believe In Visions (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1984, 1986), 53-4, 57.

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

Mark 5:31 Comments Why was the anointing released to only one woman when a crowd of people were pressing against Jesus? We see the answer in Mark 5:33 when Jesus said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” It is our faith in God that releases the anointing. We see from Matthew 14:34-36 that the entire crowd could have been healed as did happen with the men of Gennesaret.

Matthew 14:34-36, “And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

In this city, as many as touch his garment were healed. We see the faith in the people of this city when the Matthew 14:35 says, that the men of that place “had knowledge of him.” We cannot believe beyond our knowledge of God’s Word. This means that when they heard about Him, they believed He had the power to heal them. Therefore, they sought to touch Him, just as the woman of issue of blood sought Him and touch He to receive her healing.

Mark 5:34 Comments This testimony by Jesus Christ of the woman’s faith resulting in her healing sparked faith in many others as they too came to touch Jesus’ garments and were healed, which we see taking place in Mark 6:56, “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”

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 5:36 “Be not afraid, only believe” - Comments Fear can be sudden. When it comes, it seems to grip our emotions. However, faith in God, which operates by love (Galatians 5:6), is what can cast off and break the grip of fear. Hence,

1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear : because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Galatians 5:6, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

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

Mark 5:37 Comments Peter, James, and John seemed to be closer to Jesus than were the other disciples. These three disciples were:

1. At the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36, John 1:14).

2. With Jarius' daughter (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:4-43, Luke 8:40-56).

3. In Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36, Mark 14:32, Luke 22:40).

Also, John was the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; John 20:2; John 21:7).

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 5:40 Comments It is interesting to note the fact that Jesus put the scorners out of the room before raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. This is because He had to drive out the atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. Anyone who has every ministered the Gospel knows the witness in his/her spirit of a receptive heart or a stubborn, closed heart of the hearer. When someone is hungry to hear the Gospel, the anointing of words seems to flow out of the mouth of someone preaching the Gospel. To the scorners, the minister feels as if he has to push each word out with force, because it does not flow out easily, and there is little or no inspiration of words. Jesus knew that if He were to be in the presence of doubt and unbelief, it would hinder the flow of the anointing.

One of the most dramatic examples of this in my ministry took place in 2006. I had the privilege of preaching a number of times in a particular church to a large congregation of over five thousand people. For certain reasons, there were not friendly relationships between the pastor and his wife and me. As I had been invited to preach occasionally in this pulpit over the years, his wife had always hosted me. On one particular Sunday morning in early 2006 I was preaching the three services. Neither the pastor, nor his wife, nor any other skeptical members of the staff were in attendance. As I stepped up to the pulpit and laid down my Bible and notes, the choir was finishing its worship song. I then lifted my hands to heaven, and it felt like I touched electricity. For the next forty-five minutes we stood in the presence of God. I believe one major factor that led to this open door from Heaven was the fact that there were no skeptics sitting close to the front, and the people’s hearts were receptive to my ministry. In contrast, a few months later the pastor and his wife were seated in the front row when I had been invited to preach. It was difficult for me to speak, because I did not feel an unction. It was not that I had not prepared myself, but I believe that a hearer’s heart can determine whether the anointing flows from the minister or not.

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

Mark 5:43 Comments In one country where he was rejected (Luke 8:39), Jesus tells the healed man to tell the Gadarenes what God has done. However, in a place where people received Him, He told them to be silent about what God had done (Matthew 8:4; Matthew 9:30, Mark 5:43, Luke 5:14; Luke 8:56). Why did He do this? Perhaps because Jesus knew that He could not return to the country of the Gadarenes and there would be no one else to preach the Gospel to them. In the regions where multitudes came out to hear Jesus, He needed the liberty to move about and to teach smaller crowds in order to communicate the Good News more effectively.

Mark 5:37-43 Comments “he suffered....he charged” - Note the authority by which Jesus conducted Himself with people as He ministered healing.