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 5:35 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:35 recounts a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is interrupted while speaking to a crowd after being approached by an official from the local synagogue, whose daughter was gravely ill.

The official, Jairus, had fallen at Jesus' feet, pleading for Him to come and lay His hands on his daughter so that she might be healed and live (Mark 5:23).

Before Jesus could reach Jairus's house, messengers arrived bearing the tragic news that Jairus's daughter had died.

The messengers questioned the point of bothering Jesus any further, implying that now that the girl was dead, there was nothing more to be done.

The verse captures the notion of finality that death held to those present, and it contrasts the imminent sense of despair with the transcendent power of faith offered by Jesus' presence.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is the second book of the New Testament and is typically dated between 65 and 70 A.D.

It was a time when Christianity was beginning to spread in a predominantly Jewish and Roman pagan world.

Jairus, as the leader of the synagogue, held an important religious position within Jewish society.

Approaching Jesus, a figure that was controversial among the Jewish authorities, illustrates the desperation and faith he had in Jesus' ability to heal.

In that era, illness was poorly understood, and effective medical treatments were limited.

The finality of death was absolute, and it was understood that when a person was pronounced dead, human intervention was futile.

That Jairus sought Jesus' help, and that people informed him of his daughter's passing, reflects the customs and beliefs of the time concerning health and the intervention of holy men.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse highlights several key themes:

It demonstrates Jesus' authority over life and death, which is a central tenet of Christian beliefs about his divinity.
The message conveys a debate between faith and fatalism.

While the messengers suggest there is no reason to "trouble" Jesus further, the narrative encourages readers to hold on to faith even when the situation seems beyond hope.

The verse prepares the audience for the forthcoming demonstration of Jesus' miraculous powers and foreshadows the ultimate miracle of Jesus' own resurrection.

Theologically, this passage has been interpreted to mean that with Jesus, it is never too late for intervention, emphasizing that his power is not bound by the natural order.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Mark 5:35 in a person's daily life may involve:

Encouraging believers to maintain hope and faith in desperate situations.
Reminding individuals that seeking help, particularly divine assistance, is valuable even when human understanding sees no further prospects.
Inviting followers of Christianity to trust in Jesus' power and timing, rather than succumbing to despair.

Cross-References

Mark 5:23: "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."
John 11:25-26: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Believest thou this?"

Luke 8:50: "But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."

Language Study

A closer look into the original Greek text of this verse provides more insight into the meaning conveyed.

The key phrase "why troublest thou the Master any further?" contains the Greek verb "σκύλλεις" (skylleis) which derives from "skyllō" that means "to trouble" or "to cause inconvenience." This suggests that from the messengers' point of view, any further appeal to Jesus would be bothersome or futile.

The term "Master" translates from the Greek "διδάσκαλος" (didaskalos), which refers to a teacher or instructor, indicating the respect and authority Jesus held among the people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, this verse reflects a common theme of miraculous healing and divine intervention found in different cultures. In many ancient mythologies, gods and demigods intervene in human affairs, often in response to pleas for help.

However, this verse stands out in that it shows a divine figure, Jesus, who intervenes not by invitation (since the situation was presumed hopeless), but by virtue of His own will and power to transcend death, which is a central narrative in Christianity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, death is a biological process defined by the permanent cessation of vital functions.

However, there are documented cases where individuals who were clinically dead have been resuscitated, leading to discussions about the definition of death and the potential for medical intervention.

While scientific understanding recognizes the finality of death, this verse touches upon the spiritual hope for life beyond death, which is beyond the scope of science.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries offer different perspectives on Mark 5:35.

Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that the friends who brought the news did so with a sense of resignation, failing to understand Jesus' power.

The Pulpit Commentary notes that the interruption was part of the dramatic sequence that heightened the miracle Jesus was about to perform.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible acknowledges the despair felt by those who thought Jesus' help was no longer relevant.

These commentaries converge on the notion that this verse sets the stage for a demonstration of Jesus' divine authority in a situation that seemed beyond hope.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:35 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 5:35 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?