The big picture
Travelling with his followers, the teacher Jesus crosses the lake. They reach the country of the Gadarenes, on its eastern side. There he meets a man living among tombs under the grip of evil spirits. Back across the water, two urgent needs meet him: a dying child and a woman worn down by years of bleeding. Crowds, fear, and delay surround these encounters. Jesus brings freedom and healing, and even news of death does not end what he has come to do.
In this chapter
- A Tormented Man Is Freed Mark 5:1-13
From the tombs comes a man with an unclean spirit, running to meet Jesus.
- A Restored Man Receives a Task Mark 5:14-20
The pig keepers report what happened, and local people come to see.
- A Father Pleads for His Daughter Mark 5:21-24
Jesus crosses the lake again, and a large crowd gathers at the shore.
- A Hidden Touch Becomes Public Healing Mark 5:25-34
A woman has bled for twelve years.
- A Dead Girl Stands and Walks Mark 5:35-43
News arrives that Jairus' daughter has died, and the messengers say there is no point troubling Jesus further.
Central truth
Jesus reaches people others cannot restore, freeing a tormented man, healing a long illness, and raising a dead girl.
Scripture beside the summary
Mark · King James Version · 43Mark 5:1-13
A Tormented Man Is Freed
From the tombs comes a man with an unclean spirit, running to meet Jesus. Chains have failed to restrain him. He cries day and night and wounds himself with stones. The spirit recognises Jesus as God's Son and begs not to be tormented. Asked its name, it answers Legion because many spirits are present. They plead to enter a nearby herd of pigs rather than leave the region. Jesus permits it. The spirits leave the man, enter the pigs, and the herd rushes down a steep slope into the lake. About two thousand animals drown. The man has been freed from a destructive force no chain could master.
In everyday life
A crisis-outreach nurse sits at a safe distance from a distressed man whom neighbours know only through fearful reports. She arranges care that treats him as a human being rather than a problem to lock away. His isolation begins to break. Mark identifies evil spirits expelled by Jesus, not a medical condition treated by the nurse.
Notice
Mark 5:9 The name Legion points to the many spirits speaking through one man. Jesus faces their combined force without needing the restraints that others have tried.
Mark 5:1-13
King James Version1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4Because 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.
5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7And 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.
8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13And 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.
Mark 5:14-20
A Restored Man Receives a Task
The pig keepers report what happened, and local people come to see. The man who lived among tombs now sits clothed and clear-minded. Instead of welcoming Jesus, the people are afraid and ask him to leave their region. As Jesus boards the boat, the healed man asks to go with him. Jesus sends him home to tell his friends what the Lord has done and how he showed mercy. The man spreads word through Decapolis, a region known for its ten cities. People marvel. His new life includes a place among others and a message he can carry from his own experience.
In everyday life
A housing-support resident packs a bag to follow the worker who helped him leave the streets. She asks him instead to join the welcome team at his new home and tell arrivals what helped him settle. Staying becomes a meaningful task rather than rejection. Jesus sends the man to report divine mercy, not a support programme's results.
Notice
Mark 5:19 Jesus refuses the request to travel with him but gives the man a role at home. A different task is not a denial of belonging.
Mark 5:14-20
King James Version14And 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.
15And 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.
16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
19Howbeit 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.
20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Mark 5:21-24
A Father Pleads for His Daughter
Jesus crosses the lake again, and a large crowd gathers at the shore. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, the local place for worship and Scripture, falls at his feet. His young daughter is close to death. He urgently asks Jesus to come and place his hands on her so she will live. Jesus goes with him. The crowd follows closely and presses around him as they move. Jairus brings no long argument for help, only a father's desperate request. His standing in the community does not keep him from kneeling in front of the crowded shore.
In everyday life
A head teacher kneels beside an emergency responder and asks her to hurry to his child. At school others turn to him for decisions; here he can only explain the need and lead the way. His public role offers no cure. Jairus seeks healing from Jesus himself, not transport to an emergency team.
Notice
Mark 5:24 Jesus responds by going with Jairus. The father's plea is met with action before the later interruption slows their progress toward the house.
Mark 5:21-24
King James Version21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23And 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.
24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
Mark 5:25-34
A Hidden Touch Becomes Public Healing
A woman has bled for twelve years. Many treatments have hurt her, spent her money, and left her worse. Hearing of Jesus, she reaches through the crowd and touches his clothing, trusting that this will heal her. The bleeding stops at once. Jesus senses healing power going out and asks who touched him. His followers point to the pressing crowd, but he keeps looking. Trembling, the woman comes forward and tells the truth. Jesus calls her daughter and says her faith has made her well. He sends her away in peace, giving personal assurance to someone who had hoped to remain unseen.
In everyday life
A chronic-illness patient waits at the edge of a consultation room after years of failed care. When a clinician notices her, she finally explains the whole history instead of hiding behind a brief symptom list. Being heard changes the encounter. Jesus heals immediately through the woman's touch and faith, not through diagnosis or a new treatment plan.
Notice
Mark 5:34 Calling her daughter brings warmth to a fearful public moment. Jesus does not leave her with an unexplained cure and fear of having done wrong.
Mark 5:25-34
King James Version25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 5:35-43
A Dead Girl Stands and Walks
News arrives that Jairus' daughter has died, and the messengers say there is no point troubling Jesus further. Jesus tells Jairus to trust rather than fear. He takes only Peter, James, and John, three close followers, to the house. Mourners laugh when he describes the child as sleeping. He sends them out and enters with her parents and the three followers. Taking her hand, he tells her to rise. The twelve-year-old girl stands and walks. Everyone is amazed. Jesus firmly asks them not to spread the news and tells them to give her food. Restored life leads straight to ordinary care.
In everyday life
A child-bereavement companion carries tea to parents whose home has fallen silent after dreadful news. She stays close and handles small needs when words no longer help. The parents do not have to manage every practical task alone. Jesus reverses the child's death; the companion can offer care but cannot return the child to life.
Notice
Mark 5:43 Jesus' instruction about food follows the wonder of the girl walking. She is a living child with bodily needs, not a display for the crowd.
Mark 5:35-43
King James Version35While 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?
36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40And 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.
41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Mark 5:1 begins with “And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.”
Where the chapter turns
Mark 5:30 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
Mark 5:43 leaves the reader with “And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jesus, damsel, swine, besought, chains, country help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- fetters
- Metal restraints fastened around the feet or ankles.
- virtue
- Here, the healing power that goes out from Jesus.
- damsel
- An older word for a girl or young woman.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
