Mark 5: The Gadarene Demoniac
Why did the man with the evil spirit run to Jesus? How did he know who Jesus was?
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Mark 5:1–2 After crossing the lake, Jesus and the disciples came to the region of the Gadarenes. As Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit ran from the tombs to meet him.
5:6–7 From a distance, he saw Jesus, ran to him, and kneeled down. “What do you want with me?” he screamed. “Jesus, son of the Most High God, I implore you by God, do not torment me.”
King James
Mark 5:1–2 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,
5:6–7 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.
If the evil spirit gave the man such power that no one could control him, why wasn’t he kept away from Jesus?
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Mark 5:3–4 The man lived among the tombs and was so fierce and violent no one could restrain him, not even with chains. Frequently, people bound him with shackles and chains, but he always broke free. No one could control him.
King James
Mark 5:3–4 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.
What caused the man to cry out from the tombs, day and night?
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Mark 5:5 Night and day, he cut himself with stones and cried out from the tombs in the hills.
King James
Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
If Jesus had already commanded the spirit to come out of the man, why hadn’t that already happened?
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Mark 5:8 Jesus had already commanded the spirit to come out of the man.
King James
Mark 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Why did Jesus ask the man’s name? How many spirits do you think there were?
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Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus said.
The man said, “My name is Legion, because there are so many of us.”
King James
Mark 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
What place did the evil spirits fear Jesus would send them to? Why were the pigs a good alternative?
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Mark 5:10–12 The evil spirits kept begging Jesus not to send them out of the region. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. The spirits said, “Send us to the pigs so we may enter them.”
King James
Mark 5:10–12 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.
What caused the pigs to stampede? What happened to the evil spirits?
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Mark 5:13 After Jesus gave them permission, they came out of the man and entered the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd of about two thousand stampeded down the steep bank, plunged into the water, and drowned.
King James
Mark 5:13 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.
What were the religious beliefs of most of the townspeople? Why did they beg Jesus to leave?
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Mark 5:14–17 The herdsmen ran into the town and told what had happened, how the man had been delivered and the pigs were lost. The townspeople rushed to see for themselves. When they saw the man who had been possessed, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, they were frightened. All the eyewitnesses repeated what they had seen happen to the man and the pigs. The townspeople begged Jesus to leave their country.
King James
Mark 5:14–17 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.
We have no other biblical record of a man asking to follow Jesus and being refused? What did Jesus say was most important? Why?
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Mark 5:18–19 As Jesus returned to the boat, the man begged to go along.
“No,” Jesus said. “Go home to your people and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, how you received mercy.”
King James
Mark 5:18–19 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.
What effect did the man’s story have in the ten cities?
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Mark 5:20 So the man left and spread the word in the ten cities of the region, telling what Jesus had done. Everyone was amazed.
King James
Mark 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
How could a large crowd be already gathered when Jesus arrived on the opposite shore?
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Mark 5:21 After again crossing the sea by boat, Jesus met a large crowd at the shore.
King James
Mark 5:21 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.
Why did some synagogue officials oppose Jesus while some, like Jairus, believed in him? Why did he think it was important for Jesus to lay his hand on his daughter?
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Mark 5:22–23 A synagogue official named Jairus came, knelt before him, and passionately said, “My little daughter is dying, but if you will come lay your hand on her, she will live.”
King James
Mark 5:22–23 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.
Why was the touch of one woman different from the many in the crowd who bumped into Jesus?
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Mark 5:24–31 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed, pressing him from all sides.
A woman who had suffered twelve years from constant bleeding, had endured the painful treatments of many physicians, and had spent all her money had become worse instead of better. After hearing about Jesus, she pushed through the crowd from behind and touched his robe because she had thought, If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately, her bleeding stopped, and she felt the difference in her body. She knew she was healed.
At the same time, Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned and said, “Who touched me?”
His disciples could see no reason for the question. “What are you talking about? All along the way, people have been pushing against you and touching you. Why are you asking, ‘Who touched me?'”
King James
Mark 5:24–31 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?
Why did Jesus have to ask who had touched him?
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Mark 5:30–32 At the same time, Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned and said, “Who touched me?”
His disciples could see no reason for the question. “What are you talking about? All along the way, people have been pushing against you and touching you. Why are you asking, ‘Who touched me?'”
Still, Jesus kept looking around as if only one person had touched him.
King James
Mark 5:30–32 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.
What reasons did the woman have for being fearful?
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Mark 5:33 The woman, knowing she was the one, trembled with fear as she fell at Jesus’ feet and told him what had happened.
King James
Mark 5:33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
How did the woman’s faith make her well?
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Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
King James
Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
After the daughter had died, why did people think there was no need for Jesus?
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Mark 5:35 While Jesus was still speaking, men came from Jairus’s house and said to him, “Your daughter has died. There is no need to trouble the teacher anymore.”
King James
Mark 5:35 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?
How did Jesus know everything would be all right?
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Mark 5:36 Overhearing, Jesus said to Jairus, “Do not worry. She will be all right. Trust me.”
King James
Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Why didn’t Jesus allow more people, especially his disciples, to follow him?
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Mark 5:37 Jesus held everyone back, allowing no one to follow except for brothers James and John, and Simon Peter.
King James
Mark 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
What did Jesus mean when he said, “The child is asleep”? What might the people have thought he meant?
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Mark 5:38–40 At the house, Jesus saw family and friends weeping and heard the mourners crying their funeral dirge. As he went in, he said to the people in the house, “Why are you crying? The child is not dead. She’s asleep.”
They laughed and said he was crazy, because they knew she was dead.
After making everyone else leave, he went with the parents and three disciples into the room where the child was.
King James
Mark 5:38–40 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.
As they entered the room, what concerns and questions might the parents and the three disciples have had?
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Mark 5:40–42 They laughed and said he was crazy, because they knew she was dead.
After making everyone else leave, he went with the parents and three disciples into the room where the child was. He took the girl by the hand. “Talitha koumi.” he said, which means “Little girl, rise up.”
At that moment, the twelve-year-old got up and walked.
The parents and disciples were overwhelmed and amazed.
King James
Mark 5:40–42 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.
How did the little girl hear what Jesus commanded her to do?
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Mark 5:41–42 He took the girl by the hand. “Talitha koumi.” he said, which means “Little girl, rise up.”
At that moment, the twelve-year-old got up and walked. The parents and disciples were overwhelmed and amazed.
King James
Mark 5:41–42 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.
How well do you think people kept secret what happened? Why was secrecy important?
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Mark 5:43 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. “Give her something to eat,” he said.
King James
Mark 5:43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Why did Jesus want the daughter to eat something?
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Mark 5:43 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. “Give her something to eat,” he said.
King James
Mark 5:43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.