The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5
You can listen to Mark 5 with us below. You can also read the passage in the New Living Translation here.
“Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.
Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.””
Thank you for joining us in listening to Mark 5! You can also find a written copy of Mark 5 in the NLT here.
Below are some questions that made us think. Feel free to journal your answers to one or all of them!
Discussion Questions
In Mark 5, we see Jesus demonstrate His love and healing power in mighty ways–He heals a demon-possessed man, a bleeding woman, and a dead girl.
1. Jesus and His disciples cross the Sea of Galilee twice in this chapter. We see this referenced once at the very beginning of the passage (remember the storm they encountered at the end of chapter 4?) and after Jesus healed the possessed man.
Jesus crossed waters–even when they were rough–and served people on the other side. The region where Jesus healed the possessed man (the region of the Gerasenes/Decapolis) was largely inhabited by Gentiles. Jesus was Jewish, but never shied away from people who were different from Him.
- How can you love or serve people in the port you are in right now or the port you are traveling to? How might God want to use your travel to spread His truth and love?
- How does God help you connect with people who are different from you?
2. The demons living inside of the man in the region of the Gerasenes knew who Jesus was and the authority He had over them. However, they chose to serve Satan and themselves rather than Jesus. We see here that knowledge about Jesus without love for Him can be demonic.
- In what ways does learning more about God influence your attitude toward Him (if at all)?
- When does learning about God increase your love for Him and when does learning about God increase your self-righteousness and pride?
3. Jesus had complete authority over the legion of demons He drove out of the man. Jesus is more powerful than Satan or any force of darkness.
- Have you ever felt spiritually attacked? What was that like? How did Jesus rescue you?
-What do you do when you feel spiritually attacked? We do not have more power than Satan, we need to tell him to go away in the name of Jesus, whom he MUST obey.
4. When people heard what happened to the pigs and saw how the previously demon-possessed, self-harming, tormented man had been healed, they were afraid and wanted Jesus to leave.
- Have you ever learned something about Jesus or seen Jesus do something that made you afraid of Him?
- How can you have the courage to tell people about Jesus and what He has done, even though you might be rejected?
5. Jesus told the man to tell his own people what the Lord had done for him and the mercy God had on him.
- What has God done for you?
-How has God shown you mercy?
6. When Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter, a woman who had bled and suffered at the hands of doctors for 12 years touched Jesus' cloak in faith and was healed. Jesus could have continued walking toward Jairus' home...instead, He stopped and looked through the crowd, asking who had touched Him. The woman came forward and told Him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over" (verse 34).
This woman would have been an outcast in her culture due to her condition. Jairus was a respected leader in his community. But Jesus took the time to show the woman His love and free her from her shame. He was willing to be interrupted and did not show favoritism.
- Who in your culture or on your ship are outcasts? Be honest with yourself–would you be willing to be interrupted for them and show them love? Why or why not?
- What makes it difficult to not show favoritism?
- How do you respond when your plans are interrupted?
7. When Jesus went to Jairus' house, the people there were mourning the death of Jairus' daughter. When Jesus said she was asleep, they laughed at Him.
- When is it hard for you to believe Jesus? Is there anything Jesus has said that is hard for you to believe?
- What do you do when you experience doubt?
8. Jesus told the little girl to get up...and she did!
- What things in your life (if any) seem dead? Do you believe Jesus can raise them to life? Why or why not?
