Mark 5

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

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

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What does Mark 5:17 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:17 describes the reaction of the people from the region of the Gerasenes after Jesus had cast out a legion of demons from a man and sent them into a herd of pigs, which then rushed down a steep bank into the sea and drowned.

The verse reads, "And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts." This request for Jesus to leave their region can be understood on a literal level as the people's fear and shock over the supernatural events they had witnessed, particularly the economic loss of the swine.

On a deeper level, it reflects a common human reaction to the divine or the supernatural, fear, a lack of understanding, and a preference for the status quo over disruptive change, even when that change means healing and deliverance from oppression.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is generally considered to have been written in the late 60s or early 70s AD, and it is traditionally thought to reflect the preaching and memories of the Apostle Peter. The region of the Gerasenes, also known as the Gadarenes, was predominantly Gentile.

Thus, the raising of pigs, animals considered unclean by Jewish law, would not have been unusual there. The economic impact of the loss of livestock was significant enough to prompt the reaction seen in Mark 5:17.

However, this incident also highlights the stark distinction between the priorities of Jesus (human deliverance and salvation) and the priorities of the local populace (economic stability and continuation of their customs).

Theological Insights

This verse contributes to several theological discussions:

The Sovereignty of Jesus: The power of Jesus over unclean spirits demonstrates his sovereignty over both the physical and spiritual realms. 2.

The Human Response to God's Power: Humanity's ambivalence towards divine intervention is a recurring theme in the Bible.

Here, the preference for material stability over spiritual well-being is evident. 3.

The Costs of Discipleship: Following Jesus may sometimes require sacrifice or result in losses, which can be a stumbling block for some.

From a theological standpoint, the verse challenges readers to consider what they value and how they would respond to the disruptive but transformative power of Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 5:17 challenges individuals to reflect on how they respond to God's work in their lives. It invites consideration in several areas:

Prioritizing Spiritual over Material: The importance of valuing spiritual well-being over material wealth. 2.

Embracing Change: The willingness to accept and embrace change, especially when prompted by God's intervention. 3.

Dealing with Fear: Addressing fears that arise from encounters with the divine or when witnessing acts of God that challenge one's understanding of the world.

This verse serves as a reminder to be open to God's transforming power and not to resist His presence due to fear or attachment to personal comforts.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:34: "And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."
Luke 8:37: "Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word used for "pray" is "παρεκάλουν" (parekaloun), from the root "παρακαλέω" (parakaleō), which means to call to one's side, to beseech, or to beg earnestly. This indicates the intensity of the locals' desire for Jesus to leave.

The word "depart" is translated from "ἀπέρχομαι" (apérchomai), which means to go away or withdraw.

The phrase "out of their coasts" uses "ὁρίων" (horiōn), denoting boundaries or regions, emphasizing that the people wanted Jesus to leave their entire area, not just a singular location.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Throughout various ancient cultures and religions, there are accounts of humans encountering gods or supernatural beings and reacting with fear or awe.

For example, in Greek mythology, humans often experienced trepidation or were punished by gods when failing to show proper respect or when directly confronted with divine power.

Similarly, other religious traditions caution about the presence of the divine or sacred, which could prove to be overwhelming or disruptive to mortal life.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific or psychological viewpoint, human responses to extraordinary events, such as described in Mark 5:17, can be framed within the concept of cognitive dissonance.

This is a state of mental discomfort that occurs when new information conflicts with existing beliefs or understandings.

The townspeople's reaction can be seen as a natural resistance to a reality that starkly contrasts with their normal experiences, causing fear and a wish to return to the familiar.

Commentaries

Various biblical experts and commentators have offered insights on this verse. For example:

William Barclay notes that the people of the Gerasenes valued their pigs more than the healing of the possessed man, indicating a materialistic rather than spiritual mindset. 2.

John Calvin suggests that their asking Jesus to depart was a sign of ingratitude and lack of faith, evidencing a preference for their own economic interests over the miracles performed by Christ. 3.

Matthew Henry comments on the sad reality of people turning away the offer of salvation because they are more comfortable with familiar miseries than unknown blessings.

These interpretations highlight the complex human emotions and priorities that are exposed when confronted with the divine.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 5:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?