Mark 5
Going over the sea of Galilee to Gadara, Jesus met a man with an unclean spirit who lived among the tombs. He, having been bound with fetters and chains to no avail, was uncontrollable. This unhappy man was crying and cutting himself with stones. Seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, begging Him not to torment him.
What a picture of man. Every man in some degree, bound by Satan, is in constant torment if not saved through the blood of Christ. This is a glimpse of the condition of those who will spend their eternity in hell.
The activity of demons goes on in large measure among the heathen Gentiles. In modern civilization all of the drugs, alcohol, pleasures and the multitude of other sins bear their fruit in torment, if not now, then later.
These things produce a deep aching in the soul that only Jesus can heal. Jesus said, "Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit." He was asked his name. He answered, "My name is Legion: for we are many." The demons asked Him to send them into a herd of swine nearby. After Jesus gave them permission to go, the herd of about 2000 swine ran down into the sea and drowned.
The swinekeepers fled to the city with the news, and the people came out to see for themselves. When they saw the man who had been possessed, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, they were afraid. Those who came and saw spread the word, and the people begged Jesus to depart out of their coasts.
Could it be that man is so engrossed with his sinful life that he would rather remain in his sin than have Jesus in his presence? Would he rather be indwell by a demon than by the Spirit of God?
While the others wanted Him to leave, the delivered man begged to go with Jesus. He did not permit him to go, but told him to return to the city and to tell his people what great things the Lord had done for him and had had compassion on him. So the man went and did it.
Jairus and a Certain Woman
Jesus returned by ship to the other side. Near the sea a great crowd gathered to Him. Jairus, a ruler, came to Him and entreated Him for his daughter who was at the point of death. Jesus, Jairus, and a crowd started toward his house.
Hearing of Jesus, a woman who had had a disease of the blood for twelve years and who had spent her living on many physicians without receiving help, came up behind Him and touched His garment. She thought that if she could only touch His clothes she would be healed and immediately she was. Jesus, conscious that power had left Him, said, "Who touched Me?"
The disciples asked how anyone could know who touched Him in a throng like that. But Jesus looked around to see her who had touched His garment. Trembling, the woman came and fell down before Him, telling Him the truth, all of it. Jesus said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
Jesus went on to the house of Jairus and, taking the hand of Jairus's twelve-year-old daughter, said unto her, "Talitha cumi... Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise." Immediately she arose and walked. Jesus commanded them to give her food.
The woman with the blood disease is a picture of those in the day of grace who come by faith because of their need as sinners. The raising of Jairus's daughter is a picture of the restoration of Israel as a virgin in the latter day. The healing of the woman comes between Jairus's cry for help and the raising of his daughter.