Mark, Chapter 5.... A chapter of miracles - Wed. Bible Study 10-28-20
Interesting aspects..
Jesus told Legion to go to his home and his friends and recount, for them, his miraculous healing.. While the girl who was raised from the dead, who Jesus said was only sleeping, Jesus instructed her parents to tell no one…., Jesus even limited the audience for the healing/resurrection to the parents of the little girl only and “those who were with him,” (Peter, James and John) (v. 40). “Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, ‘Girl, I tell you, get up!'” (v. 41). Then most interestingly, says tell no one…
And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Jesus said “be not afraid only believe”……What a powerful statement.. How many of us are fear driven in our lives? But Jesus said be not afraid……..
This story is reminiscent of Lazarus’ resurrection in John 11. If Jesus had come earlier, he could have prevented Lazarus’ death. Once Lazarus died, Martha and Mary lost hope in Jesus’ power to help. Mark does not tell us Jairus’ reaction when he sees the mourners, but we can imagine his desolation when he saw that rites for the dead have begun already.
To the woman who was haemorrhaging He said in verse 34 “ Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
Why did Jesus instruct the man possessed to go home to his friends and tell what had happened to him but to the parents of the young woman who he raised he said tell no one and to the woman who touched the hem of his clothing he did not instruct her in this way at all…
With Legion Jesus spoke to the demons within him…
Immediately they met Him: They met Him because Legion saw Jesus coming and in spite of the many demons saw in Jesus hope… In this sense Legion demonstrated faith to hope.. even in his suffering he wanted to believe… Jesus did not acknowledge this with words but he proceeded to cast out the demons….When this man came to Jesus (Jesus did not seek out the man), Jesus said to demon possessing the man, Come out of the man, unclean spirit!
Jesus, Son of the Most High God:
This is what the demons said in response to Jesus' command to come out of the man (for He said to them, "Come out of the man"). This was a way they tried to resist the work of Jesus.
In the background of all this is the ancient superstition that you had spiritual power over another if you knew or said their exact name. This could be why it is reported that the unclean spirits addressed Jesus with this full title: Jesus, Son of the Most High God. According to the superstitions of the day, this was like a round of artillery fired at Jesus.
And he asked him, What is thy name?--The object of this question was to grip the demons and strip them of their demonic power by which this victim was chained and bound in torment.
And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many--or, as in Luke ( Luke 8:30 ) "because many devils [demons] were entered into him." We know a legion, in the Roman army, amounted, at its full complement, to six thousand; but here the word is used, to signify an indefinite number--large enough however to rush, as soon as permission was given, into two thousand swine and destroy them.
Why did Jesus tell Legion to “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” As was not the case with the young woman’s parents who he raised from the dead…
We know that the disciples were present when the demons were cast out of Legion.. We also know that the people tending the pigs witnessed what transpired as it says that they ran away and told it “in the city and in the country.. And we know that the people came to see for themselves.. We do not know how many… They were amazed and afraid and asked that they all leave their coast… We know that Legion wanted to stay with Jesus but Jesus instructed him to go home and be with his friends and tell all…So there were lots of people witness to this miracle.
We know that in the case of resurrected young woman that Jesus limited witnesses to the miracle.. Further, Jesus did not acknowledge that the woman was dead and as such could not be charged or credited with resurrecting her from the dead, which would have been viewed as unclean and the girl unclean also.. As was in those days, people ,save the family who prepared them for burial,were not even supposed to touch the dead… We know that he was in a hostile household as the father was the ruler of the synagogue..And we know that the people there laughed at Jesus when he said she was only sleeping… We know that Jesus only required 3 things in exchange for doing this miracle .. That the parents “Believe”, That only the parents of the girl should be witness and that they could tell no one….Perhaps Jesus knew that the parents would become believers as their daughter would be a testimony to His power but that He may have been eager to depart the overwhelmingly inhospitable household where he and his disciples were.. He saved the few in spite of the many unbelievers present on this day….
It is interesting that Jesus did not require an acknowledgement of faith to heal Legion but took mercy on him because he had been overtaken by demons..In addition to the hope demonstrated by Legion It appears that Jesus was most concerned with overpowering and casting out the demons and the healing of Legion was a by-product of it all… Jesus sent him home to witness as to the power of the lord.. But Jesus was rejected by the witnesses to this healing of Legion as was he rejected by the Pharisees who said that his ability to heal came from an evil power….
We are also witness to 3 commandments from the Lord in this chapter…..Go home..be with your friends and tell all of the power of the Lord.. 2- “Only Believe”.. Simple,straight-forward faith… and 3- thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace..
To have faith
To witness for the Lord
To be a living example of the miracle of the Lord as we radiate peace in our lives…
These 3 commandments we can readily put in place ,in our own lives everyday.We could break down what it means to “witness for the Lord, to have faith and to walk in peace but this may be better left for another meeting…But today as we conclude this wonderful chapter of Mark we can come away with meat for our souls.
We thank thee Lord for opening our eyes bit by bit each and every week. It is easy for us Lord to busy ourselves and not make time for pondering your word. Thank you for your patience with us and we ask tonight that you speak to our hearts and guide our path always. We pray for the sick among us that healing may take place both spiritually and physically for them… Bless our little bible study tonight, grant us deeper knowledge and wisdom. Help us collectively and individually be a force for thee in this desperate world we live in..
We ask these things in Jesus’ name..
Amen
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