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Mark Chapter Five

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Three Things that the Bondman the Savior Had Done for Man

A.   Who delivered man from the demon ---- to cast the demon to the herd of swine (v.1-20);

B.   Who made man no longer consume his life ---- to heal the woman who had a flow of blood (v.25-34);

C.   Who made man risen from the dead ---- to raise the daughter of Jairus (v.21-24, 35-43);

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Mark. 5:1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.”

YLT: “And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes,”

Meaning of Words: “Gadarenes”: the reward in the end;

Literal Meaning: “Gadarenes”, it was not far from the Sea of Galilee. Since a large herd of swine was feeding there (v.11), it had to be a place where many Gentiles inhabited.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The disciples had finally “came to the other side of the sea” after strong wind and heavy swell. Though we believers have tribulations in the world, we will surely arrive at our destination as long as we have the presence of the Lord.

2)    If we believers can keep the words of the Lord in the world, we will definitely receive “the reward in the end (the meaning in the original of the word ‘Gadarenes’)” in the future.

 

Mark. 5:2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

YLT: “and he having come forth out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,”

Meaning of Words: “meet”: encounter;

The Background: “out of the tombs”, most of the tombs in the Middle East were caves, which could both be used to bury the corpse and live for living person.

Spiritual Meaning: “a man with an unclean spirit”, that a man is possessed by the devil symbolizes that men in the world are ruled by the devil.

  “Out of the tombs”, the “tomb” connects both the dead and the hell (see Ps.88:3, 5).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    In this society there are demon-possessed men everywhere such as heavy smokers, drunkards, the confirmed gamblers, novels addicts, movie addicts and sport addicts.

2)    The demon-possessed men live a life as dark and dirty as that in the tombs. It is not only others cannot control such men, even they themselves have no command over themselves.

3)    Believers should never give room to the devil lest we should be ruled by it.

 

Mark. 5:3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

YLT: “who had his dwelling in the tombs, and not even with chains was any one able to bind him,”

Meaning of Words: “had his dwelling among”: had his permanent residence; “bind”: knit, tie;.

Spiritual Meaning: this verse shows the conditions of men who are possessed by the devil:

1.    “Had his dwelling among the tombs”, they live a dark and dirty life.

2.    “No one could bind him”, they cannot be controlled by anyone.

3.    “Not even with chains”, even the best method that men can find out is of no effect to them.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The whole world lies in the wicked (1John 5:19). No one can overcome it through men’s power.

2)    The sin that dwells in men can not be controlled by men’s will of desiring to do good ---- for to will is there with me, but to do right not (see Rom. 7:17-18).

 

Mark. 5:4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

YLT: “because that he many times with fetters and chains had been bound, and pulled in pieces by him had been the chains, and the fetters broken in pieces, and none was able to tame him,”

Meaning of Words: “pull apart”: draw apart, sever, dismember; “broken”: crush completely, shatter; “tame”: subdue;

Spiritual Meaning: in order to deal with those who are possessed and controlled by the demon, the best way that the world can find out is merely “to bind them with shackles and chains”, namely, to forbid with laws and political regulations, to suppress by force, to restrict by public opinion, to rule by ceremonies and social customs and to govern by the conscience and etc. However, all of these means are turned out to be a failure, for the corruption of men’s heart has not been subdued.

Enlightenment in the Word: the devil may possess men, but men cannot subdue it.

 

Mark. 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

YLT: “and always, night and day, in the mountains, and in the tombs he was, crying and cutting himself with stones.”

Meaning of Words: “cry out”: creek; “cut”: chop down;

Spiritual Meaning: “always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out”, “crying out”, it is a kind of meaningless voice, which symbolizes that those who are possessed by the devil often say some meaningless or boring words, e.g. lies, corrupt word, clamor, injurious language, filthiness, foolish talking, or jesting (see Eph.4:25-31; 5:4).

  “Cutting himself with stones”, it means that he does things hurting his body, e.g. smoking, drinking, drug taking, fornication and gambling and etc.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    To say any unnecessary words is like those demon-possessed men who cry out and annoy others.

2)    Every one who is possessed by the devil cut himself with stones.

 

Mark. 5:6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

YLT: “And, having seen Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed before him,”

Literal Meaning: “he ran and worshiped Him”, it was not the true “worship” in spirit, but only an act of “kneeling down” or “falling”.

Enlightenment in the Word: once Christ came, the devil saw from afar, and automatically surrendered to the Lord, indicating that casting the devil was not depended on the outward fleshly crying, but the real stature of Christ.

 

Mark. 5:7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."

YLT: “and having called with a loud voice, he said, `What -- to me and to thee, Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I adjure thee by God, mayest thou not afflict me!'”

Literal Meaning: “Son of the Most High God”, “the Most High God” is a form of address that the Gentiles call Jehovah the Lord (see Gen.14:18; Num.24:16; Is. 14:14; Dan.3:26; 4:2; Acts16:17). The unclean spirit knows the Lord Jesus.

  “What have we to do with you?” ---- The attitude of the demons is like that of those who admit the existence of God in the world but do not want to make God govern in their lives.

  “Do not torment me”, the devil knew that its end in the future was the eternal fire (see Matt.25:41), but did not fear and only besought the Lord that he would not command them to go away into the bottomless pit (see Luke 8:31).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” ---- The devil knew that the Lord Jesus is Son of God and they had nothing to do with Him. It shows that the intellectual knowledge is not profitable to us if it is not mixed with a heart of faith and obedience.

2)    There is neither part for Christ along with the devil, nor consent of that of God with that of the devil (see 2Cor.6:14-16). Therefore, we believers shall not take part in the matters of heresies.

3)    Many nominal Christians also worship the Lord Jesus (see v.6) and call Him the Son of God, but their deeds and words have nothing to do with the Lord. One can well imagine their end.

4)    The devil fears to be tormented, but it specially torment others. Moreover, the devil makes men suffer more tribulations in order to avoid its own torments.

5)    Everytime we preach the glad tidings to the world, the general reaction of men is that to believe the Lord right now is a kind of torment. They expect to enjoy their life when they are young, and will come to believe the Lord when they are old.

 

Mark. 5:8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"

YLT: “(for he said to him, `Come forth, spirit unclean, out of the man,')”

 

Mark. 5:9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

YLT: “and he was questioning him, `What thy name?' and he answered, saying, `Legion my name, because we are many;'”

Literal Meaning: “My name is Legion”, the word “Legion” in the original refers to the army group or legion. According to the establishment of the Roman army, there are about three thousand to six thousand soldiers in a army group.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    No matter how great the number of the unclean spirits was, they had to obey the word of the Lord Jesus. In the spiritual war, we should not see the outward condition, but believe the word of God.

2)    There are usually many demons in sinners, e.g. the smokers, the drunkards, the confirmed gamblers and etc.

 

Mark. 5:10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

YLT: “and he was calling on him much, that he may not send them out of the region.”

Meaning of Words: “earnestly”: much; “country”: place, region;

Literal Meaning: the unclean spirit is a kind of evil spirit that is seperated from the physical bodies. It usually rests itself in certain bodies, so it usually possesses the body of men. It explained why these demons begged the Lord earnestly not to cast them out.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The devil is deceitful and is usually capricious. It oppresses that it can oppress. However, when it is powerless, it begs and begs earnestly.

2)    All the deeds of the devil are for the sake of itself. It has not mercy, but begs others to show mercy to it.

 

Mark. 5:11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

YLT: “And there was there, near the mountains, a great herd of swine feeding,”

The Background: “swine” is unclean in God’s eyes (Lev. 11:7, 2Pet. 2:22). Generally, the Jews did not raise swine at that time because the swine could neither be sacrificed to God nor used as food (the Jews do not eat pork). Therefore the swine might be kept by the gentiles.

Spiritual Meaning: “those who kept the swine” typify a group of people in the society. They seem to be normal from their appearance, handling all kinds of professions diligently day and night, but they neither work for God nor for the assembly.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    No matter how noble our professional job is, if we do not work for the Lord and the assembly, we are unacceptable to God just like those who kept the swine.

2)    The feature of swine is that it keeps feeding but in the end it becomes men’s food. The feature of the world is that men in the world keep seeking earthly enjoyment but they turn out to be the devil’s enjoyment.

 

Mark. 5:12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."

YLT: “and all the demons did call upon him, saying, `Send us to the swine, that into them we may enter;'”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If the demons cannot play with men in them directly, they will play with men by outside things (entering the swine) indirectly.

2)    Though the swine is “a good way off from them” (see Matt. 8:31), the swine can still not escape from the eyes of the demons. The devil is seeking whom he may devour everywhere (1Pet. 5:8). The safest way for us is to abide in Christ.

 

Mark. 5:13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

YLT: “and immediately Jesus gave them leave, and having come forth, the unclean spirits did enter into the swine, and the herd did rush down the steep place to the sea -- and they were about two thousand -- and they were choked in the sea.”

Spiritual Meaning: “the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine”, the Lord permitted the demons to go into the herd of swine, indicating that the unclean career of making money is the area where the demons are permitted to act.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The demons can not act until the Lord permit them. It unveils the power of the Lord, and even the demons are under His control.

2)    The work of demons is to make men abandon themselves (“ran violently down the steep place”) and go into the sinful world (“into the sea”) and lose all reputation and ruin the whole life of men (“perished in the water”).

 

Mark. 5:14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

YLT: “And those feeding the swine did flee, and told in the city, and in the fields, and they came forth to see what it is that hath been done;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “Those who kept them” lost the herd of many swine and properties. If they obtained the Lord by this, they would receive the best blessing. However they even rejected the Lord.

2)    Many people suffer losses in career and do not thus wake up. On the contrary, they rely on the social organization more deeply (“they went away into the city”).

 

Mark. 5:15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

YLT: “and they come unto Jesus, and see the demoniac, sitting, and clothed, and right-minded -- him having had the legion -- and they were afraid;”

Literal Meaning: this verse showed the thorough change after the demons were cast out:

1.    “Sitting”, be quiet and no longer run about.

2.    “And clothed”, behave well and no longer be shameless.

3.    “And in his right mind”, be sober and no longer be silly or mad.

Enlightenment in the Word: those who have received the salvation of Christ must: (1) have rest ---- “sit”; (2) have the covering of Christ and not be shameless any more ---- “clothed”; (3) have a right mind ---- “in his right mind”.

 

Mark. 5:16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.

YLT: “and those having seen , declared to them how it had come to pass to the demoniac, and about the swine;”

 

Mark. 5:17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

YLT: “and they began to call upon him to go away from their borders.”

Literal Meaning: not only did they not know that Jesus is the Son of God, but also cared for material things only and feared to suffer worse loss, thus losing the opportunity of receiving spiritual blessings.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The country of the Gadarenes did not give any welcome to the Lord, for they only emphasized the earthly possessions more than the soul of men. However, the Lord preferred to sacrifice two thousand swine (v.13) in order to save a man. How precious the spirit of man is in the sight of the Lord!

2)    The earthly world and the heavenly king cannot coexist in one’s heart. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1John. 2:15).

3)    Satan uses money to control men’s heart ---- both gain and loss can make us reject the Lord.

4)    “They” actually rejected the Lord. It shows that those who do not know the Lord are rather blind when they reject the Lord.

 

Mark. 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

YLT: “And he having gone into the boat, the demoniac was calling on him that he may be with him,”

 

Mark. 5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

YLT: “and Jesus did not suffer him, but saith to him, `Go away to thy house, unto thine own , and tell them how great things the Lord did to thee, and dealt kindly with thee;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)      The first step for one to be a Christian is to bear witness toward their families and friends.

2)      To bear witness of the Lord is one thing, and to show off oneself is another thing. Many believers seem to bear witness of the Lord, but actually they just make themselves known openly.

3)      To bear witness is to tell others “what great things the Lord has done for you”. It is to make others know the Lord’s work, but not let others notice the work of us.

 

Mark. 5:20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

YLT: “and he went away, and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how great things Jesus did to him, and all were wondering.”

Literal Meaning: “Decapolis” referred to a large area in the east of the Sea of Galilee. There were ten cities built by the Greeks there (the meaning of the word “Decapolis” ---- the ten-city region).

 

Mark. 5:21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.

YLT: “And Jesus having passed over in the boat again to the other side, there was gathered a great multitude to him, and he was near the sea,”

 

Mark. 5:22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet

YLT: “and lo, there doth come one of the chiefs of the synagogue, by name Jairus, and having seen him, he doth fall at his feet,”

Meaning of Words: “Jairus”: enlightenment;

Literal Meaning: “a ruler” referred to the one who managed the order of worship in Jewish synagogue, who enjoyed high social status among the Jews.

Spiritual Meaning: “synagogue” was a place for the Jews to be gathered together, so the ruler symbolized the whole Judaism and its leader.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Only those who have obtained the revelation and “enlightenment” of God (the meaning of ‘Jairus’ in the original) can know the Lord and fall at His feet to seek Him humbly.

2)    Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, even despised his status and position and fell at the Lord’s feet to worship Him humbly, indicating that His humbleness and modesty. The one who is willing to be humble can receive blessings (see Matt.5:3; James 4:6).

 

Mark. 5:23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."

YLT: “and he was calling upon him much, saying -- `My little daughter is at the last extremity -- that having come, thou mayest lay on her hands, so that she may be saved, and she shall live;'”

Literal Meaning: “begged Him earnestly”, it indicated that his attitude was both earnest and sincere.

  “Come and lay Your hands on her”, it showed that he did not know the authority of the Lord so much, for he did not know that as long as there was “a word” of the Lord, his daughter would be healed (see Matt. 8:8, 13).

Spiritual Meaning: “daughter” is the offspring of the father, and therefore the condition that “the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue lies at the point of death” symbolizes the condition of those who are led by the stiff Judaism and its leaders ---- lacking life and just being close to death.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The daughter of the ruler lies at the point of death ------if the leading brother in the assembly lacks life, those who are led by him will lack life too. The state of the common believers’ life shows the state of the minister’s life.

2)    If we only stress on the reasons, doctrines and ceremonies in the assembly, probably those who are edified by us have a name that they live, and are dead (Rev. 3:1).

 

Mark. 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

YLT: “and he went away with him. And there was following him a great multitude, and they were thronging him,”

Meaning of Words: “throng”: press;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The Lord came to specially solve the difficulties of men. As long as we are willing to tell Him our troubles through prayers, He will surely please to help us.

2)    Though our faith is small, the Lord does not despise ---- how condescends the Lord to us.

3)    Wherever the Lord goes, there will we go with Him.

 

Mark. 5:25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,

YLT: “and a certain woman, having an issue of blood twelve years,”

Meaning of Words: “a flow of blood”: the shedding of blood is irregular.

Literal Meaning: “a flow of blood”, it might be an unusual symptom of menses (see Lev. 15:25).

Spiritual Meaning: according to the research of the Bible scholars, that “woman” was a Gentile woman and therefore she symbolized the Gentile religion.

    “A flow of blood” symbolizes the flow of life because the soul of the flesh is in the blood (Lev. 17:11). This gentile woman had a flow of blood for twelve years and the former dying Jewish girl (see v.23) was exactly twelve years old (see v.42). Therefore they both referred to the same thing that all the religions in the world seemed to leak life and were dead religions in the sight of God. They had a name that they lived and were dead (Rev. 3:1).

    “Twelve years” symbolized that they had been dealt with and instructed by God enough.

Enlightenment in the Word: anyone who neither lives for God nor has been gained by God has a flow of blood ---- to consume his life.

 

Mark. 5:26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

YLT: “and many things having suffered under many physicians, and having spent all that she had, and having profited nothing, but rather having come to the worse,”

Spiritual Meaning: physicians” refer to the leading class in the religion. If men in the world find there are problems in their life, they will seek the religionists’ help. On the contrary, it brings the consequences as follows: (1) suffer many things in vain; (2) spend much money, and sometimes lose all one’s family fortune; (3) The condition even becomes worse and worse.

 

Mark. 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.

YLT: “having heard about Jesus, having come in the multitude behind, she touched his garment,”

Meaning of Words: “touch”: contact;

The Background: the Jews regard “the flow of blood” as unclean, and whoever touches them shall be unclean (Lev. 15:25-30). That was why the woman did not want to let others know her condition but touched Jesus secretly.

Spiritual Meaning: the Lord’s “garment” symbolizes His righteous walking. “Touched His garment”, it means that one shall contact with the Lord through faith in order to be united with Him, thus appropriating the accomplished righteousness of the Lord to be ours.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “When she heard about Jesus”, it was a turning point of the woman’s life when she heard about the Lord Jesus. Believers should take the responsibility of preaching the gospel so that there will be increasing number of men hearing Jesus.

2)    There will be no one who hears without one who preaches. And there will be no one who believes without one who hears (see Rom. 10:14-15).

3)    “Came behind”, it means that she came with a humble spirit and thought she was unworthy. God sets himself against proud, but gives grace to lowly (see James 4:6).

 

Mark. 5:28 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

YLT: “for she said -- `If even his garments I may touch, I shall be saved;'”

Meaning of Words: “be made well”: be healed;

Spiritual Meaning: “For she said”, it indicated the faith in her.

  “Touch His clothes”, it referred to the outward act of faith.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Jehovah is clothed with strength. He has girded himself therewith (Ps. 93:1). Once we have touched Him, we will receive power.

2)    The power of the Lord is perfected in weakness (2Cor. 12:9). Whenever we find ourselves weak, we should come to the Lord and ask for His power.

3)    When we Christians are faced with difficulties, we should not touch the troubles ---- try to solve them by ourselves, but touch the Lord through faith in prayers ---- ask the Lord to deal with the problems.

4)    Faith is entrusting ourselves totally to the Lord and asking Him to do and save us.

5)    Faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Faith should be developed with acts.

 

Mark. 5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

YLT: “and immediately was the fountain of her blood dried up, and she knew in the body that she hath been healed of the plague.”

Meaning of Words: “feel”: know; “affliction”: plague, scourging;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If we want to solve any trouble that we are encountered with through asking for men’s help ---- “many physicians”, we will be “suffered” in vain and “spend all” and the disease will “last twelve years” and “rather grow worse” (v.26). Only when one has “touched” the Only Lord Jesus, will he be healed immediately, thus his problems will be fundamentally solved ---- “immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up”.

2)    The prayer of faith has much power (see James 5:15-16). The prayer of faith will be answered “soon”.

3)    Those who really have intimate fellowship with the Lord will surely feel that they are strengthened by the power of the Lord. All those who keep the same feeling before and after prayers may have not really touched the Lord.

 

Mark. 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"

YLT: “And immediately Jesus having known in himself that out of him power had gone forth, having turned about in the multitude, said, `Who did touch my garments?'”

Meaning of Words: “immediately”: instantly; “know”: feel, find;

Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus actually knew who had touched His garment, for He knows everything. He asked this question for He wanted to make the woman bear witness of the Lord’s grace publicly ---- she had to boldly testify her miserable condition in the past and how she was healed because of the act of touching (“the contact of faith”).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The Lord who is full of power is waiting for us to stretch our hands to appropriate power from Him.

2)    Though some Christians have enjoyed the Lord’s abundant grace and have been inspired and pressed by the Lord for many times, they still dare not confess that they believe the Lord Jesus before men and are shameful of bearing witness of the Lord!

 

Mark. 5:31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, "Who touched Me?"'

YLT: “and his disciples said to him, `Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and thou sayest, `Who did touch me!'”

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The disciples thought “thronging” the Lord was “touching” the Lord, for it was hard to distinguish the differences of them. However, the Lord knew that “touching” Him was totally different from “thronging” Him.

2)    The Lord actually does not care for those who “throng” Him. However, the Lord knows them who truly desire Him and really “touch” Him.

3)    There are many people “thronging” the Lord, but there is only one who “touches” Him. “Thronging” may be out of passionate zeal, but “touching” must be through the hand of faith. One may receive nothing after “thronging”, but the disease of twelve years has once been healed after “touching”. We believers, are we “throng” the Lord or “touching” the Lord?

 

Mark. 5:32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.

YLT: “And he was looking round to see her who did this,”

Meaning of Words: “look around”: look about;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     The Lord neither wants men to believe Him secretly nor receive His grace privately.

2)     Today, the Lord is “looking around” to see who has real faith in Him.

 

Mark. 5:33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

YLT: “and the woman, having been afraid, and trembling, knowing what was done on her, came, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth,”

Meaning of Words: “know”: see; “happen”: fulfill, turn; “fear”: be afraid, revere; “tremble”: dread; “truth”: reality;

Literal Meaning: “fearing and trembling”, “fearing” refers to the inward feeling; “trembling” refers to the outward attitude;

 

Mark. 5:34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

YLT: “and he said to her, `Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go away in peace, and be whole from thy plague.'”

Meaning of Words: “heal”: be whole, save;

Literal Meaning: “your faith has made you well”, it showed that her act of touching the Lord’s garment with hand was due to her inner faith. Men can receive the healing of the Lord through touching Him in faith only.

Spiritual Meaning: “go in peace”, it referred to the spiritual salvation. “And be healed of your affliction”, it indicated that her disease was healed.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Without faith impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

2)    Religionists want to please God by good works and yet consequently they fall into the poor state of death. The only way to be saved and healed is to receive the salvation of the Lord Jesus through faith.   

3)    If we outstretch our hand of faith to touch the Lord, His power will enable us to overcome difficulties.  

4)    The woman who had a flow of blood prayed “in her heart” only, and she was answered and healed by the Lord. Obviously, it shows that whether a prayer is answered or not lies in one’s heart, not words.

5)    The word “heal” was different from the word “save” in verse 28. The woman was just desired that her disease of the flow of blood would be healed, but the Lord’s salvation made her “wholly saved”. What the Lord does is always far exceedingly above all which we ask or think (see Eph. 3:20).

6)    All those who have met Christ must “go in peace”.

 

Mark. 5:35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"

YLT: “As he is yet speaking, there come from the chief of the synagogue's , saying -- `Thy daughter did die, why still dost thou harass the Teacher?'”

Literal Meaning: “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” It obviously indicated that this family hoped the daughter could be healed before death ---- since she was died, they gave up their hope.

 

Mark. 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

YLT: “And Jesus immediately, having heard the word that is spoken, saith to the chief of the synagogue, `Be not afraid, only believe.'”

Meaning of Words: the words “be afraid” and “believe” are both in a commanding tone.

Literal Meaning: “Do not be afraid; only believe”, we can see from the tense and voice in the original that the Lord asked him to stop the endless fear, and encouraged him to believe unceasingly.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Men’s words make us be discouraged and afraid and even lose faith. However, the Lord’s words will grant us comfort and encouragement and increase our faith.

2)    Fear may make one lose faith, and strong faith will prevent one from being afraid.

 

Mark. 5:37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

YLT: “And he did not suffer any one to follow with him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James;”

 

Mark. 5:38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.

YLT: “and he cometh to the house of the chief of the synagogue, and seeth a tumult, much weeping and wailing;”

Meaning of Words: “tumult”: disturbance; “loudly”: much, laegely; “weep”: bewail; “wail”: wail loudly;

Literal Meaning: “and those who wept and wailed loudly”, they might be the women who were hired to mourn and cry for the dead.

Spiritual Meaning: this verse symbolizes that religion is full of deathly stillness. Therefore the leaders use stimulant way to incite all the people to do something in order to maintain the noisy and live scene.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The daughter was dead. No matter how the crowd played the flute or made noisy, she could not arise from the dead. If the state of the assembly is dead, it will be of no use to instigate or encourage them with men’s way.

2)    If a man still lives, others may show indifference to him. However, when the man has been dead, men will come to show compassion to him. It is usually unnecessary to help others after the event.

 

Mark. 5:39 When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."

YLT: “and having gone in he saith to them, `Why do ye make a tumult, and weep? the child did not die, but doth sleep;”

Enlightenment in the Word: all those who are elected and preordained by God will not be completed like those who have no hope after death. They have fallen asleep (1Thess. 4: 13-14).

 

Mark. 5:40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.

YLT: “and they were laughing at him. And he, having put all forth, doth take the father of the child, and the mother, and those with him, and goeth in where the child is lying,”

Meaning of Words: “ridicule”: scorn; “put outside”: cast, expel;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    He who scorns the Lord should be cast away from the church.

2)    The religious way should be “put outside of” our heart, and then the Lord Jesus will come in. Once the Lord comes, the death will be eliminated and the trouble will be solved.

3)    The purpose of all the Lord’s works is not to persuade us but to quicken us, and is not to distribute knowledge but to distribute life.

 

Mark. 5:41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."

YLT: “and, having taken the hand of the child, he saith to her, `Talitha cumi;' which is, being interpreted, `Damsel (I say to thee), arise.'”

Meaning of Words: “talitha”: little girl; “cumi”: arise;

Literal Meaning: “Talitha, cumi”, it is Arabic. It is a special point of the Gospel of Mark to record the original words of the Lord.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The ruler of synagogue asked the Lord to lay His hands on her (v.23), but the Lord directly took her hand and said “arise”. The imlimited Christ never works according to men’s fixed method. It is sufficient for us to believe the Lord, but we should not restrict the Lord’s works. This is a great principle of prayers.

2)    It is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep (Rom. 13:11), for the Lord is saying to us: “I say to you, arise”.

 

Mark. 5:42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

YLT: “And immediately the damsel arose, and was walking, for she was twelve years; and they were amazed with a great amazement,”

Meaning of Words: “great”: large, strong; “amaze”: be (make) astonished, be beside self;

Spiritual Meaning: “for she was twelve years of age”, the woman who had a flow of blood for “twelve years” (see v.25). This girl might be born when that woman began to have the flow of blood. Therefore, we can take both of them as a whole thing, which typifies that men’s life in the world is consumed because of sins. Though men live, they are actually dead in offenses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Only through believing the Lord Jesus, men can be united with “His mighty hand” and be quickened with Him together (Eph. 2:5), namely, having been passed out of death into life (John 5:24-25).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The Lord asked the little girl to arise (see v.41) and she rose immediately. When the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have heard shall live (John 5:25).

2)    “Took the child by the hand (see v.41)” ---- when the Lord takes our hands of serving and working, our service and works will have a turning point ---- “immediately the girl arose and walked”.

 

Mark. 5:43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

YLT: “and he charged them much, that no one may know this thing, and he said that there be given to her to eat.”

Meaning of Words: “strictly”: for many times; “command”: order; “say”: tell;

Literal Meaning: “no one should know it”, the Lord did not want others to follow Him because of curiosity. The Gospel of Mark repeatedly records that the Lord especially commands others not to make Him manifest (see 1:44; 3:12; 9:9), for this book emphasizes that He is the “bondservant” of Jehovah.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “Said that something should be given her to eat”, the need of life is “eating”, and “eating” is the manifestation of life.

2)    Many people in the church only focus on preaching the gospels, but neglect to feed believers who have just believed. However, the Lord here asks us to care for their need.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Condition of the Demon-possessed Man

A.   He dwelt among the tombs (v.3a) ---- he lived in death, darkness and filth all the day, namely, living in dead range and principle;

B.   No one could bind him (v.3b) ---- he lived in the lust of our flesh without any restriction;

C.   Not even with shackles and chains (v.3c-4a) ---- even the best way of men could not subdue him;

D.   No one could anyone tame him (v.4b) ---- that could not be tamed by men’s power;

E.   He always cries night and day (v.5a) ---- he usually said futile words to others;

F.    He cuts himself with stones (v.5b) ---- he often hurt himself;

G.   He thought he had nothing to do with the Lord (v.6-7a) ---- he would not to repent to believe the Lord;

H.   He feared to be tormented right now (v.7b-8) ---- he only cared for the temporary enjoyment instead of the impending punishment;

I.      His name is Legion (v.9) ---- he liked to associate with evil men;

J.    He did not want to leave that place (v.10) ---- he liked to linger in sinful places;

K.   The demons entered to the swine (v.11-13a) ---- he dealt with filthy works;

L.    The demons ran down the steep place into the sea (v.13b) ---- he was willing to corrupt;

M.   The demons drowned in the sea (v.13c) ---- he brought shame upon oneself and ruined all his life;

 

A Man Who was Possessed by the Unclean Spirit

A.   He gave place to the unclean spirit (v.2) ---- he was possessed by the demon (the devil possessed men);

B.   He was enticed by the unclean spirit (v.3a) ---- he usually dwelt in the tombs (the devil was unclean);

C.   He was ruled by the unclean spirit (v.3b-4)) ---- men could not bind and tame him (the devil haunted);

D.   He suffered from the trouble of the unclean spirit (v.5) ---- his life and conduct did harm to men and himself (the devil did harm);

E.   He was blinded by the unclean spirit (v.6-8) ---- he did not know the Lord Jesus (the devil forcibly occupied);

F.    He confessed there were many unclean spirit (v.9) ---- he had uncountable sins (there were many demons);

G.   He saw the unclean spirit enter the herd of the swine (v.10-13a) ---- he had lived like the swine (the devil was exposed);

H.   He saw the end of the unclean spirit (v.13b) ---- he knew the end of the dark authority (the devil drowned in the sea);

I.      He was delivered from the unclean spirit (v.14-15) ---- he had been restored in grace (the devil lost its power in him);

J.    He knew the nature of the unclean spirit (v.16-17) ---- the world was enticed by the unclean spirit (the devil captured men);

K.   He preached that the unclean spirit was cast away (v.18-20) ---- he bore witness of the grace to the world (the devil was not fearful);

 

The Moman Who Had a Flow of Blood for Twelve Years Was Healed by the Lord

A.   She had a flow of blood for twelve years (v.25) ---- her life was leaked;

B.   She received nothing from physicians (v.26) ---- all the methods from the world were ineffective;

C.   She heard about Jesus (v.27a) ---- to know the Lord Jesus is the Savior;

D.   She came to touched His garment (v.27b-28) ---- to touch the Lord with faith;

E.   She had experienced the power of the Lord Jesus (v.29-30) ---- to obtain the life of God;

F.    Her heart was inspired by the Lord (v.31-32) ---- she knew that she could not do a hidden believer;

G.   She bore witness of the grace that she have been granted (v.33) ---- to declare the works of the Lord in her;

H.   She was proved by the Lord’s words (v.34a) ---- “your faith has made you well”.

I.      Had received true peace (v.34b) ---- to enjoy the gracious words of the Lord.

 

The Little Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue Was Healed

A.   He came to see the Lord Jesus humbly ---- he fell at His feet (v.22).

B.   He came to beg the Lord Jesus truly ---- he asked the Lord to lay His hands on her and make her live (v.23-24).

C.   He followed the Lord continually ---- though he heard the bad news, he still followed the Lord (v.35-37).

D.   He trusted the Lord Jesus at rest ---- he did not follow the tumult but heard the command of the Lord secretly (v.38-40a);

E.   He submitted to the Lord Jesus faithfully ---- he came to see the child with the Lord together (v.40b);

F.    He believed the Lord Jesus wholly ---- he witnessed the resurrection of the child (v.41-42);

G.   He obeyed the Lord Jesus joyfully ---- he fed the child according to the Lord’s commandment (v.43).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou