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 5:6 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:6 details a powerful moment of interaction between Jesus and a man possessed by demons.

This verse captures the moment when the man, despite being under demonic influence, recognizes Jesus from a distance, runs towards Him, and exhibits an act of worship.

The literal action of running and bowing down indicates recognition of Jesus' authority and possibly a plea for deliverance.

The deeper meaning suggests the inherent acknowledgment of the divine by even those under demonic possession, emphasizing the power and authority of Jesus over spiritual realms.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the narrative found in Mark 5:1-20, describing Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac.

The historical context is the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee, indicating a predominantly Gentile area.

During this time, Jewish cultural and religious norms considered this region and its inhabitants unclean.

The presence of tombs where the demon-possessed man lived also heightened this perception of uncleanness as tombs were places of defilement according to Jewish custom.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse demonstrates several insights:

Christ's Lordship: The demon-possessed man's action of worshiping Jesus reflects the recognition of Christ's lordship even among demonic forces.
Spiritual Authority: Jesus is shown to have dominion over evil spirits, something that is affirmed by the reaction of the man even before Jesus speaks a word.
Divine Attraction: That the man runs towards Jesus could indicate that, despite the possession, the human soul is drawn to its Creator.
Dichotomy of Good and Evil: The scene embodies the confrontation between good and evil, with the presence of Jesus immediately influencing the man's behavior.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can inspire believers to recognize the sovereignty of Jesus in every situation, encouraging them to seek Christ's intervention in their struggles.

Furthermore, it can serve as a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love and power, and even in the darkest moments, Christ's presence brings hope and the potential for transformation.

Cross-References

Luke 8:28: "When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not."
Philippians 2:10: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"

Language Study

The key word in the Greek text for "worshipped" is “proskuneo” (προσκυνέω), which entails a gesture of reverence or obeisance. In the context of the New Testament, it often signifies worship or profound respect, particularly towards God or Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, similar acts of recognition of a deity or supernatural being are seen, where individuals might prostrate themselves as a sign of deference.

In Greek mythology, mortals often show great reverence and fear towards the gods upon encounter.

In religious comparisons, bowing or engaging in worshipful acts toward a spiritual figure is common, though the identification of such figures differs among traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and neuroscience might interpret this event through the lenses of mental illness or abnormal behavior, exploring the reasons behind such reactions to a perceived authority figure.

Today's science would typically not affirm the existence of demonic possession but would seek to understand the behaviors through the study of the human mind.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this passage typically emphasize the stark contrast between the chaotic and tormented state of the demoniac and the immediate reaction of recognition and submission when confronted with the presence of Jesus.

Scholars such as William L.

Lane and R.C.H.

Lenski note the significance of Jesus' authority over the forces of evil, which is a central theme in this narrative.

Others like David E.

Garland suggest that the man's reaction encapsulates a theme in Mark's Gospel, which is the revelation of Jesus' identity and mission in conflict with the forces of darkness.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:6 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 5:6 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?