Day 33 – Friday, February 14, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Mark 5

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Demons are Cast into Swine

Matt. 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–39

1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. ² And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, ³ who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 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. ⁵ And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.⁶ When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 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.”⁸ For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” ⁹ Then He asked him, “What is your name?”And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” ¹⁰ Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.¹¹ Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. ¹² So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 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.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. 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. ¹⁶ And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. ¹⁷ Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.¹⁸ And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 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.” ²⁰ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 5:1–20.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage is paralleled in Matthew 8. In Matthew, the land of the demoniac is called the country of the Gergesenes. Mark calls is the country of the Gadarenes. They are the same country.
• Matthew spoke of two men demon-possessed coming to meet Jesus. Mark only speaks of one. This could be that Mark only concentrating on one man, rather than two. However, these could be two different stories. Either way, there is no contradiction, but rather a distinction of focus.
• This story is identical otherwise to the story in Matthew. Demoniac comes from the tombs, fierce and unable to be restrained.
• Type demoniac confronted Jesus, asking why He was there. Jesus commanded the demon to come out, and he asked to be sent into a herd of swine. Jesus consented and they went into the herd.
• The pigs were immediately in torment and went off a cliff into the sea. The swine herders ran to tell everyone what had happened. When they returned, the demoniac was sitting, clothed, and in his right mind.
• The people were afraid and asked Jesus to leave the area. The demoniac wanted to follow Jesus, but He told him to go home, tell his friends what happened.
• He did, and he began to tell everyone in the ten cities what Jesus had done. They all marveled at the change in his life.

Jairus Pleads for His Daughter

Matt. 9:18, 19; Luke 8:41, 42

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. ²² And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 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.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 5:21–24.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus crossed back over to Capernaum by boat and was mobbed by a multitude.
• A ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, came to Jesus and begged Him to heal his daughter.
• Jesus went with Him to see his daughter. The multitude followed Him.

A Woman with Issue is Healed

Matt. 9:20–22; Luke 8:43–48

²⁵ Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”²⁹ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 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?”³¹ But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”³² And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 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. ³⁴ And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 5:25–34.

Points to Ponder:

• As Jesus walked with Jairus to his house, a woman was in the crowd who had a bleeding issue for twelve years. She had gone to many physicians and was broke from paying them. She just grew worse.
• She fought her way through the crowd, and touched the hem of His garment. She believed she would be healed, and she was!
• Jesus asked who touched His clothes. His disciples were puzzled, asking Him if He saw how many people were in the crowd.
• He looked at the woman who had touched Him. She was afraid. She knew it was her He spoke of. She fell down before Him and told the truth.
• He sent her away in peace, healed!

Jairus’s Daughter is Healed

Matt. 9:23–26; Luke 8:49–56

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?”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.” ³⁷ And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. ³⁸ Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. ³⁹ When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”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. 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.” ⁴² Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. ⁴³ But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 5:35–43.

Points to Ponder:

• A messenger from Jairus’ house came to meet them, informing Jairus that His daughter was dead.. He told Jairus not to bother Jesus any longer.
• Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid, just believe!
• They continued to the house, but told everyone else to stay behind except Peter, James, and John.
• When they got to the house, and Jesus announced that the girl was not dead, but just sleeping. They ridiculed Him, and He sent them out of the room.
• Jesus just told the girl to arise, and she rose up and walked. Everyone was amazed. He told everyone to keep it to themselves and give her something to eat.
• Jesus blew everyone’s mind and showed them His power, but did not want everyone to know about His display.
• Power with humility. A strange and beautiful major display of Godness.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.