Mark chapter 5 presents a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ authority over demonic forces, illness, and even death, all of which reveal the nature of God’s kingdom breaking into the world. This chapter is divided into two interwoven narratives: the story of the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes, and the account of Jairus’s daughter alongside the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage. Both parts highlight the importance of faith and the transformative impact of encountering Jesus.
The chapter opens with Jesus and His disciples arriving by boat in the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as Jesus steps ashore, He encounters a man possessed by many demons who had lived among the tombs. The man is so wild that no one could bind him, even with chains, and he would often break free and harm himself. When the man sees Jesus, he immediately runs to Him, falling down before Him and crying out loudly. The demons, aware of Jesus’ true identity, shout that He is the Son of the Most High God and beg Him not to torment them. Jesus, displaying His authority, asks the unclean spirit its name. The reply is, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Jesus then gives them permission to come out, and the demons enter a nearby herd of pigs. The pigs rush down a steep bank into a lake and drown, an act that both terrifies the local people and signifies the complete defeat of the forces of evil. The people in the town, shocked by this event, beg Jesus to leave their region. However, the healed man desires to follow Jesus, but He instructs him instead to go home and report how much God has done for him. In this dramatic exorcism, we see the power of Jesus to restore a man who was both physically and spiritually bound, and the response of the community that is divided between awe and fear.
The narrative then shifts to another miraculous event involving a respected synagogue leader named Jairus, whose only daughter is gravely ill. Jairus, desperate for help, falls at Jesus’ feet and pleads with Him to come to his house to heal his daughter. As Jesus agrees to go with him, a large crowd follows, demonstrating the growing public acclaim for His ministry. In the midst of this urgent journey, a woman who had suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve long years, and who had spent all she had on doctors without any improvement, comes up behind Jesus. Believing in the power of even a mere touch, she reaches out and touches the edge of His garment, confident that this act of faith will heal her. Instantly, she feels her bleeding stop, and Jesus, aware that power has gone out of Him, turns around in the crowd and asks, “Who touched my clothes?” Although His disciples are puzzled by His question, Jesus reassures them that someone has touched Him, and He tells the woman that her faith has made her well. Overwhelmed with gratitude and awe, she goes away in peace, her suffering ended by her simple, yet profound, act of trust.
Not long after, messengers come from Jairus’s house, bearing the sad news that his daughter has died. Undeterred by this despairing report, Jesus encourages Jairus not to fear but to believe. Upon arriving at the house, Jesus finds a scene of mourning, with many people weeping and wailing loudly. He tells them not to cry, asserting that the child is not dead but sleeping—a statement that is met with derision by the onlookers. Yet, when Jesus enters the room, takes the girl’s hand, and speaks the words, “Talitha koum,” meaning “Little girl, arise,” the child is immediately restored to life. The room fills with amazement and wonder as those present witness this incredible act of resurrection.
Mark chapter 5 therefore presents a rich tapestry of miracles that illustrate the transformative power of Jesus. In the account of the demon-possessed man, Jesus’ authority over spiritual forces is made manifest, demonstrating that the power of darkness is no match for the light of God’s kingdom. In the intertwined stories of Jairus’s daughter and the woman with the hemorrhage, faith is portrayed as the crucial element that unlocks healing and resurrection. Both narratives emphasize that faith in Jesus, whether expressed by the desperate pleas of a father or the quiet, persistent touch of a suffering woman, brings about radical change—restoring life where there was death and health where there was chronic suffering.
Furthermore, the chapter challenges readers to examine their own response to Jesus’ call. It invites us to reflect on whether our hearts are like good soil, receptive to the word of God, or like the hardened ground from which the legion of demons was expelled. Through these miracles, Jesus not only validates His divine authority but also offers a powerful invitation to all who are broken, oppressed, or suffering: come, place your faith in Him, and experience the renewing power of God’s grace.