Bible Studies Jeanie C. Crain http://crain.english.missouriwestern.edu

The Gospel of Mark: A Study Based on the Old Testament

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Summary Jesus performs two acts in Mark five: he heals the Gerasene demoniac and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead.  The Gerasene demoniac has long dwelt in tombs, restrained by shackles and chains; he immediately recognizes Jesus as "Son of the Most High God." From here, Jesus proceeds to the other side of the sea, a great crowd gathered around him, to be approached by Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He says, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." Jesus goes with him. Inserted into this story is the account of the woman with a hemorrhage. Having suffered from the disease for twelve years, she is desperate to touch the garments of Jesus in hopes of being healed. Jesus is immediately aware of her touch:

30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ " 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

By the time Jesus reaches Jairus' daughter, she is dead. Jesus tells the mourners the little girl is not dead but sleeping and is laughed at; stung, perhaps, by the lack of faith, Jesus proceeds alone, says, "Little girl, get up!" 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.  This is followed then by the admonition not to tell anyone what has been witnessed. Practical, Jesus tells them to give the little girl something to eat.

The place of the Gerasenes, according to Luke, is across from Sea of Galilee. The probable location is Kersa, later called Gersa, on the east coast of the Sea of Galilee. What is interesting in this account is that Jesus in once again contesting unclean spirits. This time, recognizing Jesus, the spirits settled into nearby two thousand swine which rush suicidally into the sea. Not only are swine recognized as unclean animals traditionally, they seem to be a feature of Decapolis, a federation of about ten cities in eastern Palestine. The story immediately accounts for a huge gentile population. The demoniac is one of the many sad faces of humanity encountered by the humanitarian Jesus: 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. This time, the people beg Jesus to leave their village, afraid of the power he has manifested; the demoniac, however, begs to get in the boat with Jesus but is refused. He is instructed rather  to 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.' 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed."

The next crucial performance is the demonstration of God's power over death:

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ " 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" 36 But overhearing † what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus is again best by a great crowd when he is approached by Jairus, who tells him his daughter is at death but that he believes that if Jesus were to come and lay his hands on her, she would be made well.   Sensing incredible faith, Jesus goes with him.  From the crowds, though, a desperate woman presses in to touch his garments; ill for twelve years, she has only her faith and hope that what she has heard of this man is true.  When she touches him, Jesus immediately feels power going out from him.  He turns on the crowd, "Who touched me?"  The woman is afraid but knows he addresses her; in fear and trembling, she gratefully falls before him.  Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease.

In the meantime, Jairus' daughter has died; Jesus, nonetheless, knowing death is a temporary state, says she is only sleeping; he is greeted by general laughter.  Proving his point, however, alone, he commands the young girl to get up, and she does so.  As she walks about, the crowd falls back in amazement of this new manifestation of power over death itself.   Jesus, practical to the core, instructs them to get her some food.

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Last modified: December 07, 2009