---
title: "The Fourfold Gospel -  Mark 5"
description: "LVI. JESUS HEALS TWO GERGESENE DEMONIACS. (Gergesa, now called Khersa.) aMATT. VIII. 28-34; IX. 1; bMARK V. 1-21; cLUKE VIII. 26-40.  b1 And they came to"
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/the-fourfold-gospel/mark/5"
---

LVI. 
JESUS HEALS TWO GERGESENE DEMONIACS. 
(Gergesa, now called Khersa.) 
aMATT. VIII. 28-34; IX. 1; bMARK V. 1-21; cLUKE VIII. 26-40. 

b**1 And they came to the other side of the sea** [They left in the "even," an elastic expression. If they left in the middle of the afternoon and were driven forward by the storm, they would have reached the far shore several hours before dark]**,** **** c**26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee.** a**28 And when he was come into the country of the Gadarenes.** c**27 And when he was come forth** b**out of the boat,** c**upon the land** [Midway between the north and south ends of the lake, and directly east across the lake from Magdala, was the little city of Gergesa. In front and somewhat to the south of this city Jesus landed. Some sixteen miles away and to the southeast, and seven miles back from the lake, was the well-known city of Gadara. Further on to the southeast, on the borders of Arabia, and at least fifty miles from Gergesa, was the city of Gerasa. The name Gerasenes is, therefore, probably an error of the transcribers for Gergesenes, as Origen suggested. The region is properly called "country of the Gadarenes," for Gadara was an important city, and the stamp of a ship on its coins suggests that its territory extended to the Lake of Galilee]**,** b**straightway there met him out of the tombs** c**a certain man out of the city** [Gergesa]**,** b**with an unclean spirit,** c**who had demons;** b**3 who had his dwelling in the tombs:** c**and abode not in** ***any*** **house, but in the tombs.** [The sides of the mountain near the ruins of Gergesa are studded with natural and artificial caves which were used as tombs.] b**and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; 4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the** [344] **fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. 5 And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.** [The natural spirit of the man seeking to throw off the dominion of the demons would cry out in agony, and the demons themselves, in their own misery, would use him as a vehicle to express their own grief. It would be hard to imagine a more horrible state] c**and for a long time he had worn no clothes,** b**6 and when he saw Jesus from afar,** c**he cried out,** b**he ran** c**and fell down before him,** b**and worshipped him; 7 and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, {**c**said,} What have I to do with thee** [on this phrase, see [Romans 10:7](../../../kjv/romans/10/7), [Revelation 9:1](../../../kjv/revelation/9/1), [Revelation 9:2](../../../kjv/revelation/9/2), [Revelation 9:11](../../../kjv/revelation/9/11), [Revelation 11:7](../../../kjv/revelation/11/7), [Revelation 17:8](../../../kjv/revelation/17/8), [Revelation 20:1](../../../kjv/revelation/20/1), [Revelation 20:3](../../../kjv/revelation/20/3). How these demons escaped from the abyss is one of the unsolved mysteries of the spirit world; but we have a parallel in the releasing of Satan-- [Revelation 20:1-3](../../../kjv/revelation/20/1-3).] **** a**28b And there met him two possessed with demons, coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way.** [Matthew tells of two, while Mark and Luke describe only one. They tell of the principal one--the one who was the fiercer. In order to tell of two, Matthew had to omit the name "legion," which belonged to one; and conversely, Mark and Luke, to give the conversation with one, did not confuse us by telling of two.] **29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?** [The judgment-day, the time of punishment and torment-- [Matthew 25:41](../../../kjv/matthew/25/41), [2 Peter 2:4](../../../kjv/2-peter/2/4), [Judges 1:6](../../../kjv/judges/1/6).] **** b**11 Now there was there** a**afar off from them** b**on the mountain side a great herd** a**of many swine feeding. 31 And the demons besought him,** c**and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them.** a**saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.** b**that we may enter into them. 13 And he gave them leave.** a**32 And he said unto them, Go. And they** b**the unclean spirits** c**the demons came out of the man, and entered** a**and went into the swine: and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, {**c**the lake,}** b***in number*** **about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.** a**and perished in the waters.** [About a mile south of Khersa a spur of the mountain thrusts itself out toward the lake so that its foot is within forty feet of the water line. This is the only spot on that side of the lake where the mountains come near the water. The slope is so steep and the ledge at its foot so narrow that a herd rushing down could not check itself before tumbling into the water. [346] Skeptics have censured Jesus for permitting this loss of property. God may recognize our property rights as against each other, but he nowhere recognizes them in the realm of nature. What was done to the swine was done by the demons, and the owners had no more right to complain than they would have had if the herd had been carried off by murrain, by flood, or by any other natural cause. All animals have a right to die, either singly or in numbers. The demons evidently did not intend to destroy the swine. Their desire to have live bodies to dwell in shows that they did not. But the presence of the demons in their bodies made the hogs crazy, as it had the demoniac, and they ran the way their noses were pointed at the moment. For discussion of demoniacal possession, see [Mark 7:31-37](../../../kjv/mark/7/31-37).] c**and he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city** [Gergesa] **how great things Jesus had done for him.** b**and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him** [for the cities which constituted Decapolis, see page 173]**:** **and all men marvelled. 21 And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him: and he was by the sea.** c**40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him.** [They could see the sail of his boat as he started back.] **** a**1 And he came into his own city.** [Capernaum.] [348]
[FFG 344-348]

LVIII. 
JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER AND THE INVALID WOMAN. 
(Capernaum, same day as last.) 
aMATT. IX. 18-26; bMARK V. 22-43; cLUKE VIII. 41-56. 

c**41 And** a**18 While he spake these things unto them** [while he talked about fasting at Matthew’s table]**,** **behold, there came, {**b**cometh}** c**a man named Jairus, {**b**Jairus by name;}** c**and he was a ruler {**b**one of the rulers} of the synagogue** [He was one of the board of elders which governed the synagogue at Capernaum. These elders were not necessarily old men-- [Matthew 19:16-22](../../../kjv/matthew/19/16-22), [Luke 18:18-23](../../../kjv/luke/18/18-23)]**,** **and seeing him,** c**he fell {**b**falleth}** c**down at Jesus’ feet,** a**and worshipped him** [It was a very lowly act for the ruler of a synagogue thus to bow before the Man of Nazareth. But the ruler was in trouble, and his needs were stronger than his pride]**,** c**and besought him to come into his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.** b**23 and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death:** a**is even now dead** [he left her dying, [352] and so stated his fears in the very strongest way]**:** **but** b***I pray thee,*** **that thou come and lay thy hands on {**a**hand upon} her,** b**that she may be made whole, and live.** a**and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose** [From Matthew’s table. Jesus did not fast for form’s sake, but he was ever ready to leave a feast that he might confer a favor]**,** **and followed him, and** ***so did*** **his disciples.** b**24 And he went him; and a great multitude followed him** [The ruler, of highest social rank in the city, found Jesus among the lowliest, and they were naturally curious to see what Jesus would do for this grandee]**,** **and they {**c**But as he went the multitudes} thronged him.** a**20 And, behold, a woman, who had {**c**having} an issue of blood twelve years,** b**26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and** c**who had spent** b**all that she had,** c**all her living upon physicians,** b**and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,** c**and could not be healed of any** [Medicine was not a science in that day. Diseases were not cured by medicine, but were exorcised by charms. The physician of Galilee in that age did not differ very widely from the medicine-man of the North American Indians. One in easy circumstances could readily spend all during twelve years of doctoring with such leeches.] **** b**27 having heard the things concerning Jesus** [her faith rested on hearing rather than on sight]**,** **came in the crowd behind,** c**him, and touched the border of his garment:** a**21 for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, {**b**garments,} I shall be made whole.** [The nature of her disease made her unclean ( [Leviticus 15:26](../../../kjv/leviticus/15/26)). Her consciousness of this made her, therefore, timidly approach Jesus from behind.] **29 And straightway {**c**immediately}** b**the fountain of her blood was dried up;** c**the issue of her blood stanched.** b**and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.** [The feeble pulse of sickness gave way to the glow and thrill of health.] **30 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power** ***proceeding*** **from him had gone forth, turned him about in the** [353] **crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?** c**Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter and they** b**his disciples** c**that were with him,** b**said unto him,** c**Master, the multitude press thee and crush** ***thee,*** b**Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?** c**46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me: for I perceived that power had gone forth from me.** b**32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.** c**47 And {**b**33 But}** c**when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came** b**fearing and trembling** [because being unclean, any rabbi would have rebuked her severely for touching him]**,** **knowing what had been done to her, came and fell {**c**falling} down before him** b**and told him all the truth.** c**declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.** [To have permitted the woman to depart without this exposure would have confirmed her in the mistaken notion that Jesus healed rather by his *nature* than by his *will.* Hence he questions her, not that he may obtain information, but rather as a means of imparting it. By his questions he reveals to her that no work of his is wrought without his consciousness, and that it was himself and not his garment which had blessed her.] **** a**22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said,** c**unto her,** a**Daughter, be of good cheer** [Faith gets a sweet welcome]**;** **thy faith hath made thee whole.** c**go in peace.** b**and be whole of thy plague.** [Be permanently whole: an assurance that relief was not temporal, but final.] a**And the woman was made whole from that hour.** [Faith healed her by causing her to so act as to obtain healing. Faith thus saves; not of itself, but by that which it causes us to do. It causes us to so run that we obtain.] **** b**35 While he yet spake, they come from {**c**there cometh one from} the ruler of the synagogue’s** ***house,*** **saying, Thy daughter is dead:** b**why troublest thou the Teacher any further?** c**trouble not the Teacher.** [The delay caused by healing this woman must have sorely tried the ruler’s patience, and the sad [354] news which followed it must have severely tested his faith; but we hear no word of murmuring or bitterness from him.] **50 But Jesus hearing it,** b**not heeding the words spoken** [not succumbing to the situation]**,** c**answered him, {**b**saith unto the ruler of the synagogue,} Fear not, only believe.** c**and she shall be made whole.** [Thus, with words of confidence and cheer, Jesus revived the ruler’s failing faith.] **** b**37 And he suffered no man to follow with him** [into the house with him]**,** **save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.** [These three were honored above their fellows by special privileges on several occasions, because their natures better fitted them to understand the work of Christ.] **** c**51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.** b**38 And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue;** a**23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house,** b**he beholdeth a tumult, and** ***many*** **weeping and wailing greatly.** a**and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, Give place** [Mourning began at the moment of death, and continued without intermission until the burial, which usually took place on the day of the death. Even to this day Oriental funerals are characterized by noisy uproar and frantic demonstrations of sorrow, made by real and hired mourners. Flute-players, then as now, mingle the plaintive strains of their instruments with the piercing cries of those females who made mourning a profession]**:** **** c**52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, {**b**saith} unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep?** c**Weep not; she** b**the child** a**the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.** [Jesus used this figurative language with regard to Lazarus, and explained by this he meant death-- [John 11:14](../../../kjv/john/11/14).] **And they laughed him to scorn.** c**knowing that she was dead.** [His words formed a criticism as to their judgment and experience as to death, and threatened to interrupt them in earning their funeral [355] dues.] **** a**25 But when the crowd was put forth,** b**he, having put them all forth** [because their tumult was unsuited to the solemnity and sublimity of a resurrection. They were in the outer room--not in the room where the dead child lay]**,** **taketh the father of the child and her mother and them** [the three] **that were with him, and goeth in {**a**he entered in,}** b**where the child was.** [Jesus took with him five witnesses, because in the small space of the room few could see distinctly what happened, and those not seeing distinctly might circulate inaccurate reports and confused statements as to what occurred. Besides, Jesus worked his miracles as privately as possible in order to suppress undue excitement.] a**and took {**b**taking} the child {**c**her} by the hand, called, saying, {**b**saith} unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, {**c**Maiden,}** b**I say unto thee, Arise.** [Mark gives the Aramaic words which Jesus used. They were the simple words with which anyone would awaken a child in the morning.] **** c**55 And her spirit returned** b**42 And straightway the damsel rose up, {**a**arose.}** c**she rose up immediately:** b**and walked** [her restoration was complete]**;** **for she was twelve years old.** c**and he commanded that** ***something*** b**should be given her to eat.** [Her frame, emaciated by sickness, was to be invigorated by natural means.] **** c**56 And her parents were amazed:** b**they were amazed straightway with a great amazement.** [Faith in God’s great promise is seldom so strong that fulfillment fails to waken astonishment.] **43 And {**c**but}** b**he charged them much** c**to tell no man what had been done.** b**that no man should know this** [A command given to keep down popular excitement. Moreover, Jesus did not wish to be importuned to raise the dead. He never was so importuned]**:** **** a**26 And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.**
[FFG 352-356]

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