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 5:19 mean?

Explanation

This verse is part of the story of Jesus healing a man possessed by demons in the region of the Gerasenes or Gadarenes, as noted within the Synoptic Gospels.

After Jesus drove the demons out of the man and sent them into a herd of pigs, the healed man, liberated from the torments he suffered, wished to accompany Jesus.

However, Jesus gives him a different mission: to bear witness to what God has done for him. The man is instructed to go home to his own people and tell them of the mercies and transformative power he has experienced.

This verse encapsulates an early account of personal testimony, where an individual who has experienced a life-changing encounter with the divine is tasked with sharing that experience to inspire faith in others.

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Historical Context

The verse is set in a predominantly Gentile area on the east side of the Sea of Galilee.

During the time of Jesus, this area would have been influenced by both Jewish and Greek cultures.

The presence of a herd of pigs indicates that the region was not strictly Jewish, as pigs were considered unclean animals under Jewish dietary laws.

By including this healing in Gentile territory and having the healed man spread the word among his own people, the Gospel writer hints at the universality of Jesus' mission and message.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse demonstrates several key points:

Jesus' Authority: Jesus demonstrates His authority over evil and suffering by performing an exorcism.
Mission of the Witnesses: The man is commissioned to be a witness, which prefigures the Great Commission to all disciples to go forth and bear witness to Jesus' works and teachings.
Testimony and Evangelism: The verse stresses the role of personal testimony in the spread of the Gospel message.
Divine Compassion: The emphasis on "compassion" can be seen as a reflection of God's love and care for individuals, regardless of their background or prior state.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to share their personal experiences of transformation and hope.

It suggests that:

Personal Story: Everyone has a unique story of how they have encountered and been changed by their faith or higher truths.
Witnessing: Sharing one's personal journey can be a powerful form of evangelism.
Gratitude and Acknowledgement: There is value in recognizing and vocalizing the positive changes one has experienced through divine intervention or spiritual growth.

Cross-References

Luke 8:39 - "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee."
Psalms 66:16 - "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
Matthew 28:19 - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me."

Language Study

The original Greek words used in this verse provide depth to its meaning:

"Suffered him not" (επετρεψεν αυτω ου) - Jesus did not permit him, emphasizing Jesus' authority in directing the man's next steps.
"Go home" (υπαγε εις τον οικον σου) - Literally "go away" or "depart to your house," which carries both a physical and metaphorical sense of returning to one's own life.
"Compassion" (ελεησεν) - The term used for "compassion" suggests a deep, visceral feeling of empathy and loving concern.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural context of the Greco-Roman world, stories of gods and heroes often included acts of healing or exorcism but were typically mythological in nature.

In contrast, the Gospels presented Jesus' actions as historical events with a direct impact on individuals' lives. This narrative bears witness to a new paradigm where miracles are part of a personal experience with the divine that the individual is then encouraged to share with others.

Scientific Perspectives

While modern science tends to approach phenomena like demonic possession with skepticism, preferring psychological or medical explanations for such behaviors, the narrative holds significant importance in the historical and spiritual context.

The concept of Jesus' healing might parallel discussions about the role of faith and belief in psychological well-being and the potential psychosomatic effects of spiritual experiences.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various insights into this verse:

Historical-Critical Scholar: They might emphasize the story's setting in a Gentile context, suggesting the Gospel writer's intention to reach a Gentile audience.
Theological Analyst: They may focus on the soteriological implications, such as salvation being available to all, and the story as a precursor to the inclusion of Gentiles in the early Church.
Pastoral Perspective: From this viewpoint, the emphasis could be on the theme of restoration and the mandate for Christians to share their redemption stories.
Social-Scientific Critic: This perspective might explore the social dynamics at play, including the significance of the man returning to his social context as a witness and the implications for community identity formation.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:19 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 5:19 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?