Mark 5

1. Background

“What manner of man is this?” is the question chapter four left us with, (4:41).  This Jesus is merely a man?  What man on the earth is there that even the weather obeys His command?  Miraculous as this man Jesus is, still He invites conflict with His teachings and ministry.  He isn’t without a growing number of enemies who feel threatened by His authoritative pronouncements.   Those who are particularly faithful to following Him are rewarded according to their effort in pursuit of God’s kingdom (4:24).  Now we find Him with His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee to some purpose He hasn’t yet revealed…

2. Theological Observations

God lovingly seeks to save the individual.

The narrative reveals the purpose of Jesus’ journey across the sea, through the storm, along with His disciples.  Obviously, Jesus wanted an audience for what He is about to display before them. He greatly loves the soul of the individual, insomuch He takes this perilous journey over the sea only to find a deplorable man living in the tombs.  This man was a lost cause, not even chaining him could subdue him, consider the magnitude of his torment destined to bear it alone.  He is beyond the cure of medicine or science, his torturers are unclean demons who have possessed his mind. Will anyone be able to reason with him?  One encounter with Jesus freed the man of his demons and torment.

Probably the most distinguishable difference in this miracle healing is that there seems to be no initial request by anyone for this man.  He had nobody making intercession to God on his behalf.  He had no friends to lower him down to where Jesus was sitting–no premeditated act of faith to move God’s hand.  Jesus took the first steps and all the rest of the steps thereafter to free this man’s mind–purely and solely the grace of Jesus is being showcased.  All of this grace and initiative for one man’s lost soul shows God’s heart for the individual.

Details in this passage that show us some of the extents of God’s love for the individual are the tombs, the gentiles, and the swine elements of the story–all of which were considered unclean objects.  But here is Jesus, who authored the law, venturing into the decrepit and unclean for the sake of one soul.  The unclean becomes clean, the demon-possessed is freed and in his right mind.

God desires in us a certain kind of faith. 

Not just any sort of belief will do with God.  In the case of the menstruous woman, there were many thronging Jesus, clamoring for his attentions, but Jesus perceived the special lady who “touched him”.  She believed that merely touching His clothing would heal her of her disease.  She did so and was healed.  Was there some sort of power in Jesus’ clothing? I don’t think so.  Was this woman’s faith mixed with a little superstition?  I think that can be observed.  The remarkable thing is Jesus still healed the woman regardless of the manner in which she come.   I see a woman who is in great need uncertain of how to touch Jesus.  The Bible doesn’t give us details of why she thought to touch His garment instead of speaking to Him.  Perhaps she thought because of her condition, He would not want to defiled Himself by touching her.  Perhaps she thought that she wasn’t worth this great man’s time.  Either case would be untrue, but yet in spite of the ignorance or weakness on her part, her faith is accepted and she is healed.

A common theme emerges in Jesus’ reply to her. When Jesus looked around He saw a woman trembling and afraid.  Would He rebuke her?  He says, “go in peace, your faith has made you whole.”  In other words, don’t be afraid, there is no need for it with the kind of faith you have.  This theme is continued with Jarius daughter.  Jesus reassures Jarius in verse 36, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  Again, we see that the kind of faith God wants in us is a certain kind that excludes fear.   Reaching back in chapter 4, Jesus calms the storm and rebukes the disciples for being afraid and not having faith.

Elsewhere in Revelation 2:10, Jesus authoritatively says to the church of Smyrna that they should not fear coming persecution,

 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Also, seeded throughout the Old Testament is the charge to “Fear not” in some connection to what God will do for them as they trust Him.  Particularly in Deuteronomy 31:6, the Hebrews are being admonished to trust the Lord as they prepare for battle:

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

God must have done something quite remarkable to expect this kind of faith from frail humanity.  What sort of person may face persecution, war, and death without reasonable fear?  What sort of promise is there that can calm the storm and the soul?

3. How The Passage is Fulfilled in Christ and the Gospel

Jesus died to save the individual.

The same Jesus who got into the boat and traversed the seas to find one desperate individual is the same Jesus who will shortly carry His cross up a lonely hill.  His death reached across an immeasurable distance to find us sitting in darkness.  He left His home and found the one sheep out of the ninety-nine that needed saving, such is everyone’s case who is found by the Lord Jesus.

Even in the midst of crowds thronging Him clamouring around Him, He always had a moment to responded to individuals who desperately needed Him.  Even up to His final hour on the cross, He met personally with one of the thieves who believed on Him.  His death secures the salvation of the individual that turns to Him in faith. He meets with you on the personal level, though He is King and Lord of all.

Faith in Jesus and the cross excludes all fear.

In our passage, each individual possessed a faltering faith, perhaps not as strong as God would like.  Yet He gently nudges them in the right direction by calming their fears.  The One in whom they have trust is greater than the greatest consequence.  Jesus overcame death in the case of Jarius’ daughter which is the highest consequence of any matter.  He will do it again in raising Lazarus after four days being days dead.  Now we have assurances from God by the raising up of Jesus we too will be raised.

Romans 8:11

¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

What then is the purpose of our fear?  If God should be sovereign in our lives, even over our death, then we have confidence in Him that death in Christ is not forever.  When the thoughts of our heart rest in the promises of Jesus Christ, we know all things work together for the good of those that love Him, even our death.  Our death only signifies the happy moment we are reunited with the One who gave everything to find us and save us.

4. Application

Being the one that was lost and found, how can I not respond in like manner by searching for those that are lost?   If Jesus is so willing to give all for one individual, can not I follow in like manner? I will prayerfully seek for that one that needs Jesus as I go out today.