They arrived at the sea’s other side, to the area of Gerasenes. As Jesus left the boat, a demon-possessed man immediately approached him. The man lived in the tombs and couldn’t be restrained any longer, not even with chains. He was often tied up in locks and chains, and he broke the chains and destroyed the locks. No one could control him. Every night and day, in the tombs and on the mountains, he would yell and cut himself with stones.

The man saw Jesus from far away and ran and bowed before him. He yelled with a loud voice, “What is me and you, Jesus, Son of the Highest God? I ask you by God to not torture me.”

Jesus was saying to him, “Get out of the man, demon spirit!”

Jesus then asked the demon, “What’s your name?”

The demon replied, “My name is Legion because there are many of us.”

The demons asked Jesus over and over to not be sent from the area. A large herd of pigs was eating on the mountain.

“Send us to the pigs so we can enter them,” the demons asked Jesus. Jesus allowed them. The demon spirits left and entered the pigs. The herd of two thousand pigs ran down the mountain into the sea and drowned.

Their farmers ran and reported what happened to the town and surrounding country. The people came to see what happened.

They came to Jesus and saw the formerly demon-possessed man (who had the Legion) sitting, clothed and sane. The people were afraid. The witnesses described what happened to the formerly demon-possessed man and the pigs. The people asked Jesus to leave the area.

As Jesus was getting to the boat, the formerly demon-possessed man asked if he could go with them.

But Jesus did not allow him. “Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord did for you and how he showed you mercy.”

The man went and announced in the Decapolis all Jesus did got him, and the people were amazed.

Jesus travelled again in the boat to the other side of the sea, and a large crowd came to him, beside the sea.

A synagogue leader named Jairus came, saw Jesus and fell at his feet. Jairus begged of Jesus, “My little daughter is nearly dead. Come, put your hands on her to heal and make her alive.”

Jesus went with Jairus, and a large crowd followed, squashing him.

A woman who had had a constant period for 12 years was there. She had suffered under many doctors and spent everything without receiving any help but was worse for it. She heard about Jesus and came into the crowd behind him and touched his cloak. She had been saying, “Touching just his clothes will heal me.”

Her period immediately stopped. She realised her body was healed from the sickness. Jesus realised power had left him. He turned to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

His disciples said, “Look, the crowd is squashing you. You ask, ‘Who touched me?'”

Jesus searched to see who did it. The woman, afraid and shaking, knew what happened to herself. She came and bowed before him and told him the truth.

Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith healed you. Go with peace and be healed from your sickness.”

While Jesus was talking, people came with the synagogue ruler saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why still bother the teacher?”

Jesus ignored them and said to the synagogue ruler, “Don’t fear, just believe.”

Jesus did not allow anyone to go with him except Peter, James and John (James’ brother). They arrived at the synagogue ruler’s house and saw a commotion of loud crying and yelling. Jesus entered the house and said to them, “Why are you yelling and crying? The child’s not dead but asleep.”

They mocked Jesus, but he sent them all away and took the child’s father and mother, and the others with him, and went to the child.

Jesus took the child’s hand and said, “Talitha koum” which means ‘Young girl, I’m saying, get up’.

The girl immediately stood and walked around – she was aged twelve. Everyone was very amazed.

Jesus ordered them many times that no one else should know about this and told them to give her food to eat.

Mark Chapter 5 Summary

Jesus encountered a man possessed by many demons in the area of Gerasenes. This man, uncontrollable and in torment, recognised Jesus and pleaded with Him. The demons named themselves ‘Legion’ due to their numbers. They pleaded with Jesus to be sent into a nearby herd of pigs, which He permitted. The demons entered the pigs, causing them to drown in the sea. This event alarmed the locals, leading them to ask Jesus to leave. However, the freed man was transformed, and Jesus instructed him to share his testimony with his community. Jesus then met Jairus, a synagogue leader, whose daughter was critically ill. On His way, a woman who had been ill for 12 years touched Jesus’ cloak, believing she’d be healed. Jesus felt the power leave Him and affirmed her healing was due to her faith. Upon reaching Jairus’ home, Jesus was informed the girl had died. However, Jesus revived her, amazing everyone present.

Mark Chapter 5 Bible Study Questions and Answers

1. How did the demon-possessed man’s reaction to Jesus differ from the community’s response to the miracle with the pigs?
   Answer: The demon-possessed man recognised Jesus’ authority and power immediately, while the community reacted with fear and requested Jesus to leave after witnessing the event with the pigs.
2. What can we learn from the woman’s approach to Jesus in her time of need?
   Answer: The woman demonstrated faith, believing just a touch of Jesus’ cloak would heal her. From her, we learn the importance of faith in approaching Jesus and believing in His power to heal and transform.
3. How does Jesus’ interaction with Jairus teach us about hope and persistence in prayer?
   Answer: Even when faced with news of his daughter’s death, Jairus, with Jesus’ encouragement, remained hopeful. This teaches us to remain persistent in our prayers and trust in God’s timing.
4. What message does Jesus send by reviving Jairus’ daughter and referring to her state as “asleep”?
   Answer: Jesus demonstrates His authority over life and death, emphasising that in Him, even death is temporary, like sleep.
5. How does the transformed life of the formerly possessed man reflect on Christian living?
   Answer: The man’s transformation highlights the profound change Jesus can bring into our lives. As Christians, our lives should be a testimony to the power and mercy of Christ.

Mark Chapter 5 Explained

Mark Chapter 5 is a vibrant showing of Jesus’ authority, compassion, and the transformative power of faith. The events here show various types of human suffering and Jesus’ ability to bring hope and healing.

The demon-possessed man represents those bound by spiritual chains, lost and excluded. His uncontrollable nature signifies how overpowering spiritual darkness can be. But in Jesus’ presence, even the fiercest demons bow, signifying Jesus’ supreme authority over evil. The herd of pigs drowning is symbolic, demonstrating the self-destructive nature of evil when confronted with Christ’s light.

However, the community’s reaction reminds us that witnessing a miracle doesn’t necessarily lead to faith. Fear and uncertainty can overshadow the beauty of a transformed life. The locals represent those who prefer the status quo, unwilling to embrace the change Jesus offers.

The story of the woman and Jairus reveals Jesus’ ability to heal both chronic and acute suffering. The woman’s 12-year ailment symbolises long-standing burdens we carry, while Jairus’ immediate crisis is an example of abrupt challenges that shake our world. In both cases, Jesus responds to faith. The woman’s healing, almost discreet, underlines that our personal faith, even if silent, is seen and honoured by Jesus. Jairus’ experience shows that even when all seems lost, in Jesus, there’s always hope.

Lastly, the revival of Jairus’ daughter shows Jesus’ victory over death. By referring to her as “asleep”, Jesus reduces the finality of death, which will be further shown with His later victory on the cross.

Mark Chapter 5 is a reminder that in our darkest hours, Jesus is the beacon of hope, healing, and transformation, calling us to faith and a life of testimony.

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Continue exploring Mark 5

If you’d like to read Mark 5 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Mark 5 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Mark 5 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Mark 5 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Mark in more depth, here are two commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Mark
Mark (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Mark (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)