Mark | Chapter 5 – Scripture Supply

Mark 5:1-20

“Pigs Parish”

Introduction
Vs. 1-2a From fear to fear
Vs. 2b-6 Six characteristics of demonic influence
Vs. 7-13 Even demons believe – and tremble
Vs. 14-20 Go from Him or go for Him

Introduction

This section of scripture from the end of chapter 4 through chapter 5 is Mark’s examination of the authority of Jesus over four things that cause humanity the greatest amount of fear and anxiety. The four that Mark illustrates are:

4:35-41 Disaster
Vs. 1-20 Demons
Vs. 21-24 Death
Vs. 25-34 Disease

There is another fear that many today have especially in light of what is currently happening in the stock market and that is a loss of “Dollars”. Though Jesus doesn’t directly take this fear up it does appear in the story we are looking at today. The reality Mark presents is that Jesus’ deliverance of the man from the demons increased the fear of the loss of “dollars” in the people of the Gadarenes. Their stock in “pork bellies” literally plummeted taking a dive into the sea. Looking at this story it is clear that Jesus’ work had opposite effects on two groups of people: To the demoniac it was clearly a blessing, but to the people of the Gadarenes it was seen as an economic curse. If there had been a headline of this incident in the “Gadarene Gazette” it most likely would have recorded the incident as “Pigs Parish” instead of “Demoniac Delivered”.

Vs. 1-2a From fear to fear

Vs. 1 The Greek speaks of the people of the town of Gersa which was in the district of the Gadarenes located on the South Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This area is where the tribe of Gad settled which was on the wrong side of the Jordan. Because of this it was frequently attacked and invaded by the gentiles. This is the reason that it was primarily inhabited by the gentiles and Jews who had adopted the Greek culture above their own and is the reason why swine was a commodity.

Vs. 2a Each of the gospel writers of Matthew and Luke add touches as to this man’s condition. Matthew informs us that there were two demon influenced men that came out of the tombs and were so fierce that no person could pass that way. Mark and Luke only mentions one, this has caused some to attack the validity of the scriptures saying that there is an obvious contradiction. The solution to the difference in these two accounts is that Matthew records the fact that there were numerically two but only one had a dialog with Jesus, which is why Mark’s and Luke’s only identify the one called legion. Mark tells us that he came OUT OF the tombs and the way Mark introduces the demoniac to his readers suggests that the personality of the demons was far more noticeable than the man’s own human personality. The concept that he was demon possessed does not occur in the Bible. The purpose of demonic influence is always “destruction”. There is never any hint that a person can be influenced by a spirit for “good purposes” the only Person who can influence a person for good is Christ. If an unclean spirit influences a person though it may at first seem to enlighten or heal a person the ultimate aim is never good only destruction.

We can look out at the sphere of influence that satan and his cohorts have over the world and there are discernable degrees that increase. I can imagine the disciple’s fresh off of the new realization that Jesus was in their boat that caused a greater awareness of just who Jesus was, only to be immediately confronted by these two demon crazed naked men the moment they came ashore. There are more tests to our security they the mere elements of nature, none more frightening then people. Here we will note that Mark mentions six of these characteristics of demonic influence in this man:

Vs. 2 Unclean: This is the word in verse 2 rendered “unclean spirit” is the effect of this spirits caused in this lost soul. A general observation is that the demon influence causes the oppressed person to prefer death, squalor and moral pollution.
Vs. 3a Isolation: Another thing that we see associated with the demonic influence is anti-social or isolationist tendencies where the person prefers little or no human contact. Here again we see this man withdrawn from family and friends living separately physically and emotionally from the rest of humanity.
Vs. 3b-4 Supernatural strength or power: This man exhibited strength outside the bounds of normalcy breaking chains and shackles. It took more than one person to subdue him do to this demonic power. Having multiple law enforcement personal in my life I have heard of many cases of this where the person regardless of their size of phasic possessed a super natural strength that caused the police to have to use extra ordinary means to subdue the person.
Vs. 5a Tormented: The demonic influence seems to enjoy tormenting its host. A person may at first be lured into giving themselves over to demonic control through the promise of controlling power over others and sometimes a promise of greater sexual immorality or a sense of belonging. But the end result is that they were lured into this and are tormented because of it. This man was restless night and day, crying out in pain and cutting himself with sharp stones in an attempt to drive out his inner torment.
Vs. 5b Self destructive and suicidal tendencies: There is a self-destructive nature seen in self-mutilation and in some cases destructive suicidal behavior. Not all suicidal behavior is of demonic origin but this one clearly was.
Vs. 6 Recognition of higher authority: There was an instant recognition of the authority of God as he came running to Jesus calling Him by name as well as recognizing His authority over himself. The Greek describes this demon controlled man aggressively running towards Jesus and His disciples in a hostel nature. Matthew clearly alluded to when he mentioned the fierce nature of these two poor souls and how they keep people away from their location. The word used for worship means to prostrate one’s self as a sign of reverence. It is used to mean a person’s recognition of another’s superiority and rank. James writes in chapter 2 verse 19 saying that “Even the demons believe – and tremble!”
Vs. 7-13 Even demons believe – and tremble

Vs. 7-8 The picture we have is a host of demons unredeemable in nature, destined to be damned, destroying and disrupting everything that has to do with God bending their knees to God the Son. The words of the demons to Jesus inform us that they recognize nothing in common with our Lord and their only concern is to temporarily but time so that they won’t inherit immediately what they deserve for their rebellion. The word “torment” is a word that in the classic Greek meant to test or to assay metals to determine their content. These demons wanted to put Jesus under oath which when you consider those who value a lie greater than the truth it is quite ironic. This response Mark informs us was instigated by Jesus’ words to the demons, “Come out of this man”. Note the priority of the work of Christ as He didn’t begin with social work or any attempt to reform him to deliver him from his condition. No, for Jesus the quickest way to get him out of his current condition was to get his current condition out of him, thus he didn’t clothe him He saved Him, then he clothed him.

Vs. 9 The Greek tells us that Jesus kept on asking the demons which tells us that they were still very rebellious and only responded to continual repeated questioning. A careful reading of this story reveals that Jesus was not asking the demons their name but the man his, calling the man to remember his own personality. The word legion is a Roman military designation of soldiers over 6,000. It was a Roman insignia of irresistible power organized into a single unit. What amazing tenderness of Jesus who would speak to a man that all of society no longer called by name and instead only referred to him by what had taken over his life! He was so far gone that the only answer Jesus received was from that which had taken over his life. And what had taken over his life wasn’t one thing but many!

Vs. 10-13 The demons who called themselves “irresistible power organized into a single unit” kept begging Jesus that they wouldn’t be sent out of this region, requested the pigs. Jesus allowed it as it makes no difference to demons whether they inhabit people or pigs because they soon will make people’s behavior like pigs by their influence. For these demons to exercise ther influence they would need a body and that is what they didn’t want was to be without one so Jesus grants them a herd of swine. And Matthew records with the one word GO, Jesus passes judgement.

Vs. 14-20 Go from Him or go for Him

Vs. 14-17 The loss of nearly 2000 hogs brought the townsmen out to the scene not to rejoice at the deliverance of infamous demoniacs who had terrorized the community but rather lament over the lost profits of their commodity. It is obvious that the pigs are far less comfortable with demons than many people are! To the people of the Gadarenes the cure caused a catastrophe and they requested Jesus to depart as they viewed Jesus far more dangerous to them do to the loss of their profits then the demons were. They were more afraid of a sane man then they had been of the insane one. The truth is the people of the Gadarenes preferred swine to a savior as they believed the greater value was in material loss than the moral gain.

Vs. 18-20 Here we see desire and duty in conflict as the delivered man would abide with Christ but Jesus would rather abide with Him at his work. That is always the hardest place to share what Jesus has done for us, our homes! It is our lips and our life that must testify on that location, not just lips. Jesus words of Go are not FROM Him but rather FOR Him and there is a big difference in these two. Every delivered person is a sent person as we are to GO and our mission is no less if it is cross the street or cross the oceans! There were three requests made to Jesus in this passage:

Vs. 12 The demons ask “Send us the swine”, to which Jesus said GO!
Vs. 17 The people of the Gadarenes ask, “Depart from their region”, to which Jesus left.
Vs. 18 The former demonized man asked, “That he might be with Jesus”, to which yes said no, and told him to “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you.”

Of those three requests the most startling reply is obviously Jesus’ answer to the former demonized man to be with Him. In saying yes to the demons and the society Jesus answer was a judgment but in his refusal to the former demonized man it was a blessing as his return to society was an influence them of what God desires to do. Church history records a group of believers that sprung up out of this man’s testimony throughout this region of the 19 cities.

Mark 5:21-34

“Who touched Me?”

Introduction
Vs. 21-24 Whom God enlightens
Vs. 25-34 Flesh pushes, faith touches

Introduction

This is one of the more beautiful of the stories with regards to the healing touch of Jesus and it is intertwined with another story. Though all three of the synoptic gospels carry this story on a worldly front; if we were Jairus and his household, it would have been viewed as an unwanted interruption. These two come to Jesus from very different paths: Jairus’ approach is public, the women’s is private and when contrasted against the pushing multitudes we observe that:

Flesh presses, while faith touches
Crowds push Him, but needs moves Him

For Jairus’, this incident was a diversion that furthered delayed what is the greatest fear any parent can go through! This story still falls into the category of the limitations of earthly popularity as three times in the story line Mark notes the effects of the crowds upon the ministry of Jesus, one of which was this very lady. We all feel as though Jesus priorities go awry at times, where some ones inconvenience is given a higher priority over our life and death situation. But as we shall see “His mercy fails not”! Evaluating suffering as a basis of determining which gets priority is a difficult enterprise. Jesus doesn’t evaluate need based upon severity or duration but upon our connection to His loving abilities. And what at once must have seemed as an unwanted delay would turn out to be a tremendous encouragement to Jairus.

Vs. 21-24 Whom God enlightens

Vs. 21 You will recall that Jesus had an incredibly taxing day prior to His command of the disciples to get in the boat to sail to the other side. Once in the boat Jesus fell sound asleep and the disciples got caught up in a storm that shook their trust. After Jesus silencing the wind and the waves they ended up in the area of the Gadarenes with two demon influenced men. They now get into the same boat and cross the same Sea of Galilee going back to where they had sailed from and again waiting for them were the thronging crowds. I have spent some time wondering what it must have felt like being one of Jesus’ early disciples: Escaping the crushing crowds, believing you are going to drown at sea, arriving on shore with demons running at you and pigs running from you. Back on board the same boat to be faced with more crushing crowds. How many of us would join this band if we could walk with Jesus for just three days like this?

The Greek wording here is not that the multitudes were gathered “to Him” but were instead “coming after Him” not out of devotion but rather a longing to get something from Him. There are a great many today in the church that are like the pressing multitudes that view Jesus from what they can get FROM Him instead of being moved out of DEVOTION towards Him.

Vs. 22 Jairus is a Hebrew name that means “whom Jehovah enlightens”. And as we read he comes begging for his daughter as she is on her last breath. His words to Jesus are not the normal word for heal and instead the word means that she might be saved from certain death. Jairus primary request for his daughter is to be saved and healing is only the means to it. If it were not for the phrase Mark inserts describing that Jairus “was one of the rulers of the synagogue” we would not have gotten the full picture of the situation. Jairus’ who not only came to Jesus but fell at his feet was the chairmen of the board of directors of the synagogue in Capernaum. It is this very synagogue that had first altered Jesus methodology by no longer allowing Him to preach and heal in their synagogue. They had no doubt made a ruling against Jesus as they didn’t appreciate the crowds and Jesus’ insistence of breaking their rules about healing on the Sabbath. God has indeed “enlightened” Jairus and He has done so through personal experience. This crowd that Jairus wades through was of his and his boards own making. Only a short time ago he believed that Jesus was a trouble maker that only made things horribly inconvenient at the synagogue. The trampled gardens, stains on the marble floors, the interruptions by the raucous crowds. I am of the belief that Jairus and his ilk were extremely happy to see the circus side show of Jesus leave their beautiful synagogue. But all that changed in an instant when he could no longer afford indifference of human suffering. Gone was the pride, prejudice and position that had gleefully gave Jesus the boot, instead Jairus is driven through the very crowds he indirectly created. What he had one time he viewed, as the Pharisees had described, demonic driven inconvenience was now his only hope of deliverance for his 12 year old girl. I’m sure he didn’t care if it was the Sabbath, he didn’t care if he left his theology, pride or position he would gladly trade it all for his little girl. It often takes our own life’s heart aches to change our attitudes and actions. Yes God enlightens, but we need to remember that it often takes breaking our hearts to overcome our attitudes about broken rules.

Vs. 23-24 I believe that in light of what we have just understood that Jairus that his biggest problem lie NOT in the question if Jesus COULD heal his little girl (after all he had witnessed that multiple times). No, Jairus acts as a man who wonders if Jesus WOULD heal in light of how he had treated Him. Jairus had to have come to understand and belief, that in Jesus there is a man whose CHARACTER matches His ABILITY! Jesus was NOT the kind of person who would take the opportunity to take a shot at Jairus, “What has that got to do with me, remember I only do this by satan’s power,….isn’t it the Sabbath?” Neither would Jesus respond, “I’m a little busy now thanks to you, I’ll get to her when I can.” Instead we have only Mark’s words in verse 24, “So Jesus went with Him…” Five little words that describe the FACT that Jesus went with Jairus promptly without any hesitation. Those words remind us that even when we’ve been a jerk towards Jesus that if we are willing to just come to Him broken and humble He will go with us without hesitation, oh how I love Jesus!!!

Mark closes with a glaring reality that walked with Jairus along the way to his house to his dyeing little girl, “a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him…” Every step was steeped in difficulty with the pressing crowds that were crushing in on them. What may have taken only minutes was complicated because of the decision that Jairus had been a part of. Though we are not informed of this fact until verse 42 we are told that according to Jewish custom a girl becomes of a woman at 12 and one day and this little girl was at the beginning of this journey, while the primary person in our story had not felt like a women for 12 years.

Vs. 25-34 Flesh pushes, faith touches

Vs. 25 Jesus rapid response was a wonderful thing for Jairus but the pressing sprawling humanity must have tortured this loving father’s soul. Mark informs his readers about three things with regards to this woman’s situation:

Vs. 25-26 Her condition: We are informed not only of WHAT she had but also HOW long she had it. She was suffering from what doctors would call today vaginal hemorrhaging. The word “suffered” indicates that her condition caused physical that seemed to be furthered by the so called treatments of the physicians. This continual menstrual flow would not only would weaken her due to low iron it would have given her great distress and pain. According to Leviticus 15:19-27 this would also have great social and religious implications as she would have been seen as a leper being ceremonially unclean which would have left her outside of religious life and thus ostracized from society. She had this condition for 12 long years and her desperation to be cured had drained her financially and the attempted cures by the quacks had been as painful as the illness. The Talmud gives 11 different cures for a person afflicted with this aliment: Some are nothing more than superstition like carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg on a linen rag in summer and a cotton one during winter. Others had the woman carry barley which had been found in dung.
Vs. 27-29 Her cure: The literal reading of this is “having heard of the things concerning THE Jesus” which identifies OUR Jesus as His name was a common name. Jesus fame had spread to a level as He was now known as “THE JESUS”. The Greek says that she kept saying to herself “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”, as she pressed through the crowd. She couldn’t come as Jairus had done, she was ceremonially unclean instead she came lunging through the pushing crowd ignoring the fact that her action was rendering others unclean. Finally she had wormed her way close enough to touch the hem of his tasseled garment and the moment she touched it she experienced the stoppage of the flow of her blood. According to the Greek she viewed her condition as a whip that continually beat her and now instantly she was healed from its scourge. There is a tradition that says that on the hem of a rabbi’s garment is to be woven a blue thread symbolizing the word of God. And she touched this symbol without realizing she was touching the actual Word Himself.
Vs. 30-34 Her confession: Jesus response caused His disciples to question in light of the crushing multitudes “who HADN’T touched His clothes?” Of all those pressing multitudes touching Jesus only this lady received anything from Him. He hadn’t seen her touch Him but He knew instantly that she had. Power went out from Him, it was released without His verbal consent that suggests to me that this healing was done by the Father more than Jesus. How wonderful it is that God can heal me even when I don’t understand the means and manor He employs. This is the only time in the word that we read that Jesus uses the term “daughter” to a women who was most likely close to His age. Oh how tender this public word was in light of her embarrassing situation and public confession. She had just confessed to her condition and public uncleanness in front of the crowd that she had violated and Jesus calls her His daughter. And He further tells her that her healing will be a continual one not just temporally relieved due to her condition do to her confession. And observing this all was Jairus whose own embarrassment and confession at the start of this journey must have found that this unwanted distraction was and encouraging blessing!

Mark 5:35-43

“Hope interrupted”

Introduction
Vs. 35-38 Fear stilled, faith stirred
Vs. 39-43 O death where is your sting

Introduction

We take up the conclusion of the account of Jairus and we left him hearing the words spoken by Jesus to the women who had the issue of blood. He knew this little girl was dead and the delay at the woman’s healing was an encouragement when only a moment later Jairus received the news that she was dead. “Fear not Jairus, just keep believing, you just saw a glimpse of what I can do if you trust Me!”

Both of these stories given by Mark are designed to show Jesus’ ability overcome what can only be described as some of the most stress filled events in human life, chronic illness and the death of a loved one. Jesus delay was only visible from Jairus perspective not Jesus’. Jesus never cease to amaze me as I’m driven to worship Him not just because of His ability but because of His great compassion upon people who are terrorized by sorrow. We must not mistakenly believe that Jesus does this for the benefit of the young girl as He is not touched with compassion for her suffering and sorrow, no His compassion fails not for those still bound in this world to this land of death. It was the agony of Jairus and his wife that drove Jesus to bring this little girl back whole to them.

Vs. 35-38 Fear stilled, faith stirred

Vs. 35-36 It needs to be mentioned that it had taken his little 12-year-old daughters last breath to bring Jairus to Jesus. Only a few weeks earlier he had MOVED with his board to ban Jesus from the synagogue in Capernaum. Now he had been MOVED to come to Jesus, a broken man devoid of his pride, stripped of his theology, emptied of his position to the feet of Jesus like those he had kicked out of his synagogue. With the words, “Your daughter is dead” the panic approach, the intense pressure and hurriedness has come to a sudden and painful stop. No need to be impatient now, he was too late, “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” There is something far worse than the frenzied fear filled waiting as a loved one hangs onto life. In our world when Death takes over human action and effort ends! Waiting is not the worst thing that can happen because it still means there is hope! But friend Jesus wants to change your view of life and death as we shall see.

Look carefully at the familiar words of those who came to inform Jairus, “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” This may surprise you, but in light of the fact that they are aimed at a man who has come to Jesus, I find these words: Ironically Pathetic. When would there be a better time to trouble the “Teacher”? Is FEAR ever a better choice then FAITH especially during the time of great trouble like this? I suggest that in Jairus’ life there had never been a BETTER time to trouble the “Teacher” than this very moment when trouble has crashed through the door of his heart? What a strange notion we fallen humans have that it is some how impolite or inhospitable to come to a gracious God during our greatest time of trouble. We don’t come to Him at the very moment we need Him the most and then spend the rest of our lives blaming Him for not doing something on our behalf. Why do we insist of dispensing of our greatest and only resource and comfort when we need Him the most? We say, “It’s too late, it’s no use” but the truth is: The more desperate our need, the more hopeless our situation the greater our need for Him! We flee from our only help and hope out of some macabre sense of polite hospitality. Come with me to God’s personal invite in Psalm 50 verse 15 where He personally invites us to “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” The invite is to exchange your fear for faith and the only cost is noted in Jesus’ words in verse 36 “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

I further submit to you that the delay of Jesus due to the pressing crowds and healing of the woman was a great blessing. Jairus was about to experience two very important truths:

With Jesus hope needs not to depart when delay interrupts. God is not in a hurry as His delays are not denials!
Faith need not lesson when the situation changes from little hope to NO hope. Though the situation may have changed the ANSWER has NOT! Our time of trouble is not a TEST for Jesus but rather one for us. It is for this reason the trouble has come, His interruptions are important! His delays are not denials but they very well may be discipline. Jairus needed to have his fear stilled and his faith stirred!

Vs. 37-38 Mark informs his readers that the witnesses to what was about to take place was to be by invite only as Jesus permitted only 7 including Himself: Three disciples, Peter, James and his brother John. The parents Mr. and Mrs. Jairus as well as their deceased 12-year-old daughter. Gone and dispensed were to be the professional mourners that were common place according to Jewish customs. There actions were far different than the victorious hope of the Christian faith. Immediately at death loud wailing was set up so that all might know that death had taken a life, it was also present at the grave side. The mourners would hang over the dead begging for a response from the dead’s silent lips. They would beat their own breasts, tear out their hair and rend their garments all done according to specific rules. The garments were to be rent from the heart until the skin was exposed but not beyond the navel. Parents were to rend their clothes on the left over the heart all others over the right side. The garment was worn for 30 days and only after 7 days could they be sown up roughly but the tear still had to be visible. After the 30 days it could be properly repaired. The flute was used to connect with death and even the poor were to have at least two flute players at their wife’s death. The wail of flutes and the screaming cries of mourners were seen as passionate appeals to the dead. When death came those in mourning were forbidden to work for three days and this was extended even for their servants. They were to wear shoes and instead were to sit with their head bound up. They were not to shave or do anything for their own comfort. They weren’t to read the law or the prophets or anything that would aid them in joy, they could only read Job, Jeremiah or lamentations. They must eat only at their own homes and could not leave their villages for 30 days and partake of no wine or meat. They could eat eggs only if they were dipped in ashes and salt and all water was to be removed from their and three houses on either side of theirs as they believed that the angel of death procured death by dipping a sword in water. They were not allowed to go to the synagogue and receive any comfort. This was the scene in which Jesus, Jairus and those three disciples entered.

Vs. 39-43 O death where is your sting

Vs. 39-40 Jesus says to them in the Greek she has died but that she won’t stay that way, that’s the meaning of the word sleeping in the Greek. Jesus’ words caused two reactions:

To the mourners: Ridicule, as they laughed at Him to put Him down which must have been very awkward to do so when only a moment ago they were screaming so loudly as mourners. These mourners failed to realize is that death is not the separation of the body from the souls but rather it is the separation of the soul from God! Jesus commanding the room kicked them all out forcefully like He would do when He drove the money changers from the temple.
To Jairus and the disciples: Astonishment, yet Jesus takes them under His care coming alongside as He guides the grief-stricken parents and fear full disciples who were confronted with death in reassurance of His loving care.

The word “entered” in the Greek is a word that is used of a person going on a journey as it conveys the idea of a great distance or a long walk. To these parents though this little girl lies only a few years from where they were it might as well have been on the other side of the world from where they wanted to be and they did not yet view the traveling their filled with glorious possibilities and endless wonder but something to be feared and avoided.

Vs. 41-43 The words “Great amazement” is the word where we get our English word “ecstasy” describing someone removed for joy from their senses. The actions of Jesus left an unforgettable impact upon all as recorded by Peter, who no doubt retold this story to Mark. Jesus took hold of this cold lifeless hand to help her up at the same time Jesus said as Peter records in His native tongue “Talitha cumi”. Notice that Mark does not translate it into the Greek for his readers. This indicates that these are the very words Peter heard that day. What comfort “Little lamb, arise” and death was dealt a deadly blow. But remember that this was not done for the little girl’s sake. Jesus called her back to pain, heartache, worry, weariness and ultimately death. No, Jesus did this for the father and mother whose heart had been broken. The miracle is accompanied by two requests:

That it would not be published all around: This would have caused Jesus to receive every invitation to every funeral. Jesus wanted to change the view believers would have with regards to death. He doesn’t always alleviate sickness and death but for those that trust Him He always eliminates the fear it has upon us. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O hades where is your victory?” Such hope keeps us steady in a world gripped by fear. We have not been removed from death but we have been forever removed from deaths fear.
That this little girl be given food to eat: This no told the parents that not only was she alive, she was back to normal and delivered back to them for her care.

The mourners laughed at Jesus when they believed that hope and faith were pointless at His claim. But the great truth of the Christian life is that when life looks it’s worst and the circumstances are impossible things are never more possible with our Lord. The laughter that was scorn and ridicule was transformed into joy and worship! There is nothing we can’t face and be victorious in when we are facing it in the hand of our Jesus because He alone has conquered death through His love!