Introduction
Our experience shows that death, corruption, and uncleanness flow one direction. But Mark’s Gospel summons us to look at Jesus the Son of God and by faith see the glory of this Kingdom of Messiah.
The Text
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, 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. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. […]
Mark 5:1ff
Summary of the Text
Jesus has just shown Himself to be, as Yahweh in the flesh, the Captain of the Seas. He now marches on a fortified buttress of the enemy. Having crossed over the Sea of Galilee Jesus disembarks from the boat and is immediately met by a character straight out of a horror story (vv1-2). This man emerges from the graveyard with the broken chains which others had sought to subdue him, bleeding and scarred with wounds of self-mutilation, and was a sleep-deprived, raving madman (vv3-5). Jesus’ presence alone compels the spirit to drag the man unto Him and bow before Him; the spirit begs and pleads to not be tormented, for Jesus had commanded the spirit to come out of the man (vv6-8). Jesus asks the spirit for its name, and the haunting answer comes: My name is Legion: for we are many (v9). The spirits beg to not be sent out of the country (i.e. abyss) but into the nearby swine herd (vv10-12). Jesus gave them leave, and they enter the swine, driving this unclean herd of 2000 swine (likely intended for use by the Romans) into the sea which Jesus has established as being under His domain (v13).
The herders rush to the nearby town to report their losses, and the town-folk come out to see the remarkable sight of salted pork-jetsam (v14); but they discover a more remarkable sight when they see the demoniac clothed and sane (v15). Out of fear, Jesus is adjured by the town-folk to leave (v16-17), while the restored man pleads to go with Him (18). Jesus has other plans for the man and tasks him with publishing the tender-mercies of the Lord to a region in which a great number of Gentiles dwelt (vv19-20).
Jesus returns to His hometown (v21) and Jairus (the Synagogue Ruler), like the earlier Demoniacs, runs to Jesus and bows before Him (v22). He begs greatly for Jesus to come and lay hands on his dying daughter that she might live, and Jesus agrees to come to the aid (vv23-24).
Mark gives us a cliffhanger by seemingly interrupting the narrative with the story of a woman who had suffered from some sort of internal bleeding for twelve years (v25); we’re told all her attempts for restoration ended in greater misery (v26). She’d heard of Jesus and had repeatedly told herself that if only she could touch His gadilim (Cf. Dt. 22:12) she’d be well, so she sneaks up behind Jesus to carry out her plan. Straightway she feels the restorative power of God make her well (vv27-29). Jesus knew power had gone out from Him, and was certainly not ignorant of who had touched Him, but He asks anyway in order to spotlight the faith which the woman showed and with priestly authority confirms her cleanness (vv30-34)
Mark then returns to the Jairus story, but with devastating news: the daughter has died. Jairus had hastened to Jesus to plead for his daughter’s healing, but as one commentator put it: “Death outran him and won the race.” The messengers say there is no need to trouble Jesus, but Jesus has come to be make trouble for death and tells Jairus to fear not (vv35-36). Coming to the house Jesus sends the paid mourners away, enters with three chosen witnesses, and brings the girl to life with the touching words: Talitha cumi (vv37-41). Straightway where there was death, Jesus brought life (vv42-43).
The Rejected Messiah
Jesus’ parable of the Sower should still be in our minds as we come to this battle with a garrison of demons. Jesus has bound the strong man, and the demons seem to be aware that this Jesus the Son of David is the Messiah and has authority to cast them out. But though He has recapitulated the Red Sea crossing and the drowning of Pharaoh’s army, that line from John’s prologue rings true: He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him (Jn. 1:11). This episode foreshadows what is in store for Jesus: rejection.
The Lord drives out the unclean enemy of His people. And still they reject Jesus. They are the soil where the thorns and thistles of worldly cravings have choked out the Word of Life. Nevertheless, the foreshadowing isn’t done. Indeed as another commentator points out, “At the climax of Mark’s story Jesus himself will end up naked, isolated, outside the town among the tombs, shouting incomprehensible things as he is torn apart on the cross by the standard Roman torture, his flesh torn to ribbons by the small stones in the Roman lash.” The delivered man is commissioned by Jesus to tell of the great compassion which the Lord (Yahweh) had shown to him beginning with his own home/friends. The man presumably begins with his own home. But Mark foreshadows the Great Commission by telling us that the man declares Jesus in the entire Ten City region (Decapolis).
First we need to see the masterful storytelling of Mark, this episode anticipates the whole arc of Jesus’ life and ministry. Secondly, there is poignant application to our own cultural circumstances. When a people have rejected Jesus, it is no surprise that insanity, nakedness, raving, and stubborn greed seem to prevail. But don’t miss the picture Mark has painted. The Sower has sown His life-giving Word; He has claimed dominion over the raging sea; He has foreshadowed that demons will soon be cast into the abyss to no longer afflict mankind. Jesus’ reign is inescapable. This gives great hope in the midst of the current unraveling of our culture and in whatever hard trials you may find yourself in. Jesus will turn raving madmen into righteousness-robed apostles. Jesus will take self-mutilators and make them godly messengers. Jesus will take terrifying men and make them ministers of mercy.
The Resurrection is Coming
Mark couples the story of these two daughters. Taken together we get a clear message. The Lord Jesus is on His way to defeat all demonic powers and principalities in His crucifixion. But death and the uncleanness of the grave will not cling to Him. He will not be suffered to see the corruption of the grave (Cf. Ps. 16:10).
The woman with internal bleeding was not only cut-off from temple worship/service, she spread uncleanness (Lev. 15:25-27). Her physicians had not only not restored her, they’d worsened her condition. But earlier in the story Jesus described Himself as a physician for the sick. Those who come to Jesus find their misery stanched and their uncleanness reversed. Whereas death and uncleanness was spreadable by touch under Moses’ Law, Christ is spreading life and cleanness by His touch.
Mark insists that we see that Isaiah’s prophecy of the path’s being made straight for the coming rule of Yahweh is being accomplished in each act of this drama. Demons obey His summons. The scourge is relieved by His power. Death itself must give way to His life-feast. Mark is leaving us clues that death will not be Jesus’ end, nor those who lay hold of Jesus. Resurrection is around the corner. And that’s not all. Jairus’ daughter is raised from death and Jesus immediately commands a feast for her. See the pattern: death, resurrection, feasting.
Jesus is crushing the serpent’s head. Jesus is restoring daughters of Eve. Jesus is bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and this kingdom must be received in a particular way. Jesus calls you to, by faith, lay hold upon Him. If you want the Kingdom you must take Jesus as Your King. Faith is not daunted by a legion of demons or legions of Romans. Faith doesn’t concern itself with twelve years of failed physicians but it comes with certain hope to the Good Physician. By faith in Christ we share in His death and so we share in His eternal life.
Where Jesus Comes
This passage is the crescendo of this cycle of Mark’s Gospel. Jesus goes into the graveyard and emerges with a new man. Jesus confronts an army host and sends them to the ocean floor. Jesus goes into the house of mourning and leaves a thanksgiving feast of life. Where Jesus comes the scourging pain is cast out. Sanity is restored. A suffering daughter is restored to fellowship. A devastated family is put back together. How? Because Jesus goes into tombs and comes out again. It’s what He does.
Charge & Benediction
Remember that worry, anxiety, fretting and obsessing over the insurmountable challenges that beset you are all instances of walking by sight. Worry is praying to yourself. So, whatever matter has been taking up mental bandwidth I want to charge you to do two things. Make a list of nine instances of the Lord’s kindness to you and thank Him for them, and then add a tenth thing to that list…the matter that’s been eating away at you. Thank Him in all things and so walk by faith and not by sight.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace (Num. 6:24-26).
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