MARK - CHAPTEER 5 - WORDS OF POWER

MARK – CHAPTER 5 – WORDS OF POWER

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

November 22, 2022, the Year of our Lord

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

The three miracles Jesus performed in this chapter are all done by His Words of Power over demons, sickness and finally death.

1. “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

2. “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

3. “Talitha, curni,” “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

Jesus is on mission to the region of the Gadarenes to rescue a poor man out of the hands of Satan. Peter describes Jesus getting off the boat and the man immediately comes to meet him. The place is most likely near a small village that today is called Koursi. This region was largely populated by Gentiles which explains why the farmers among them kept pigs, which creatures were “unclean” to the Jews.

5:1-5: They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. When Jesus had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. The chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. Always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

The tombs were outside of the city. These were the graves of dead people. Christ by rescuing souls out of Satan’s power, saves the living from among the dead. To follow Jesus is to leave death to follow life. Let the dead, bury their own dead (Mt. 8:22). God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Mat. 22:32). Jesus described the scribes and Pharisees as full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (Mat. 23:27).

This poor man would be described today as a mad man and be kept in sedation until death. Matthew Henry: “What is man when reason is dethroned and Satan enthroned?” He is demon possessed. I can say that some of the judgments and reasonings coming from the Biden administration appear to me that all reason has been dethroned and they are all mad.

5: 6-13: When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. He cried out with a loud voice and said, “What I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most-High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” Jesus said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” He begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. A large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So, all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” At once, Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

King James reads, “They were choked in the sea.”

The man ran and worshiped Christ, but it was the devil in the man that cried with a loud voice What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most-High God? Matthew does not give us his name, However, Luke does. (Luke 8:30).

1. He calls God the Most- High God, above all other gods.

2. He knows Jesus to be the Son of God.

3. He pleads to have no issue with Christ, “What have I to do with you?”

4. He begs Jesus to not send him out of the country, or to torment them before the time.

The devils identified themselves as Legion.

1. They have military powers.

2. They are organized and unanimous in agreement.

3. They are many.

4. They are very powerful. Who can stand before a legion?

In the Lord and in the power of His might, we too are able to stand against Satan’s legions.

According to Strong’s Concordance, a legion consisted of 6826 men (6100-foot soldiers, and 736 horsemen). We could also consider since there were 2000 pigs, there were at least 2000 demons. I think the number 6826 makes a great miracle even greater. Dake proposes if the cost per pig was $35.00, this would be a monetary loss to the owners of $70,000. Today, each pig would be valued per pound.

5:14-17: Those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. they went out to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting, clothed and in his right mind. They were afraid. Those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

People who do not know the Lord will fear His supernatural power. It is also true people will fear Christ’s power in ministries. When you operate in supernatural giftings, there will always be those who will accuse you of being a witch or operating as a false prophet. We are those who cry out for more of the Lord’s power; but many will be terrified of it as these Gentiles were. We must consider that many people will not pay the cost of their money even for the life and deliverance of one man. Note their fear of Christ was such, that they did not attack him, but pleaded with him to leave. They did not want to be saved or delivered from Satan’s grasp.

5: 18-20: When Jesus got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” He departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

This man is to become an evangelist to declare the mighty works of the Christ. The Decapolis were ten Greek cities east of Jordan and south of the Sea of Galilee. That is a large area to evangelize and declare that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most- High God delivered him from a legion of demons. Note when Christ delivered the demoniac at the synagogue at Capernaum, he told him to tell no one of his deliverance. That is because he was a Jew. Jesus knew of the Pharisees’ intent to kill Jesus. The man with the legion is a Gentile. Thus, Jesus sent him out to declare the mighty works of the Son-of-God.

5: 21-24: When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. Behold one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

Back on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus meets one of the rulers of the synagogue whose daughter lies dying. Although the Jewish leaders were hostile to Jesus, Jairus, the leader of the synagogue was prepared to beg Jesus for help. He was an important man in the community.

He doesn’t barter with Jesus. He doesn’t negotiate. He doesn’t make excuses. He falls on his knees and begs.

On the way to Jairus’ house; Jesus was followed and surrounded by the crowd.

5:25-31: A certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. She had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all she had and was not better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. She said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” The disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, “Who touched me?” He looked around to see her who had done this thing. The woman fearing and trembling knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your plague.”

The faith of this woman is that she recognized Jesus as a priest and rabbi. As a rabbi, he would have a ribbon of blue on the border of his robe. It was a reminder to the Israelite to live in the heavenlies and walk a holy separated life (heavenly in nature) as one redeemed. Aaron fully dressed pictured Jesus Christ in all His glorious perfection as High Priest.

Numbers 15:37: Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue.

Matthew 14:36: They begged him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  As many as touched it were made perfectly well

Just as secret acts of sin are known to the Lord, also are secret acts of faith. He knows our heart and our motives. He knows how many hairs are on our head, how many shoes are in our closet.

Mark 5:35- While he was speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Jesus permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” They ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, he took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. They were overcome with great amazement. He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Jesus spoke the wonderful words of life to Jairus, “Be not afraid, only believe.” He would not allow anyone to go with Him except Peter, James and John. He put out all mockers because of their lack of reverence and faith. However, I will never believe their lack of faith would hinder the child being brought back to life. He knew he was going to raise her from the dead. He just didn’t want to have to contend with the devils in those scorners while he was speaking.

He raised her by the Word of Power, just as he delivered the legion, and healed the woman with the issue of blood. 

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.

www.eastgateministries.com

Scripture from N.K.J.V.

Lake Gennesaret