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Mark chapter 5

English Standard Version

1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
14The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
New International Version

1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, 'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!' 8For Jesus had said to him, 'Come out of this man, you impure spirit!'
9Then Jesus asked him, 'What is your name?' 'My name is Legion,' he replied, 'for we are many.' 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, 'Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.' 13He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, 'Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.' 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.'
24So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?'
31You see the people crowding against you,' his disciples answered, 'and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' '
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. 'Your daughter is dead,' they said. 'Why bother the teacher anymore?'
36Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.'
37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, 'Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.'
40But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!'). 42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
New American Standard Bible

1They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. 2When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. 3He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. 6Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, 'What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!' 8For He had already been saying to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!' 9And He was asking him, 'What is your name?' And he *said to Him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' 10And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. 12And the demons begged Him, saying, 'Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.' 13Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.
14Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. 15And then they *came to Jesus and *saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the 'legion'; and they became frightened. 16Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. 17And they began to beg Him to leave their region. 18And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him. 19And He did not let him, but He *said to him, 'Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.' 20And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
21When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He stayed by the seashore. 22And one of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, *came, and upon seeing Him, *fell at His feet 23and *pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, 'My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.' 24And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
25A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse— 27after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she had been saying to herself, 'If I just touch His garments, I will get well.' 29And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power from Him had gone out, turned around in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My garments?' 31And His disciples said to Him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’?' 32And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33But the woman, fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34And He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease.'
35While He was still speaking, people *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, 'Your daughter has died; why bother the Teacher further?' 36But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, 'Do not be afraid, only believe.' 37And He allowed no one to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38They *came to the house of the synagogue official, and He *saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 39And after entering, He *said to them, 'Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child has not died, but is asleep.' 40And they began laughing at Him. But putting them all outside, He *took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was in bed. 41And taking the child by the hand, He *said to her, 'Talitha, kum!' (which translated means, 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!'). 42And immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astonished. 43And He gave them strict orders that no one was to know about this, and He told them to have something given her to eat.
Christian Standard Bible

1They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. 3He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore--not even with a chain-- 4because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice, "What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don't torment me! " 8For he had told him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit! "
9"What is your name? " he asked him."My name is Legion," he answered him, "because we are many." 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.
11A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12The demons begged him, "Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them." 13So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
14The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17Then they began to beg him to leave their region.
18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. 19Jesus did not let him but told him, "Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you." 20So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
21When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea. 22One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and begged him earnestly, "My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live." 24So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.
25Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28For she said, "If I just touch his clothes, I'll be made well." 29Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes? "
31His disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me? ' "
32But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34"Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction."
35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader's house and said, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore? "
36When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid. Only believe." 37He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James's brother. 38They came to the leader's house, and he saw a commotion--people weeping and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." 40They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child's father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. 41Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum" (which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up"). 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
New Living Translation

1So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4Whenever he was put into chains and shackles — as he often was — he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7With a shriek, he screamed, 'Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!' 8For Jesus had already said to the spirit, 'Come out of the man, you evil spirit.'
9Then Jesus demanded, 'What is your name?' And he replied, 'My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.' 10Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12Send us into those pigs,' the spirits begged. 'Let us enter them.'
13So 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.
14The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15A 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. 16Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19But Jesus said, 'No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.' 20So 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.
21Jesus 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. 22Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23pleading fervently with him. 'My little daughter is dying,' he said. 'Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.'
24Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. 25A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28For she thought to herself, 'If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.' 29Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.
30Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my robe?'
31His disciples said to him, 'Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’'
32But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.'
35While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, 'Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.'
36But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, 'Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.'
37Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39He went inside and asked, 'Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.'
40The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41Holding her hand, he said to her, 'Talitha koum,' which means 'Little girl, get up!' 42And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.
King James Version

1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4Because 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. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What does Mark chapter 5 mean?

The last story included in chapter 4 combines with all of Mark chapter 5 to reveal that Jesus is even more powerful than the twelve imagined. They have reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee, after Jesus displayed His authority over a fierce storm which threatened to capsize the boat. The twelve are so amazed they ask, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41). In Mark 5, they will learn more about His power as He performs familiar miracles with an even greater scope.

The first miracle recorded by Mark was the release of a man possessed by a demon (Mark 1:21–27). Since that time, Jesus has performed many exorcisms around Capernaum (Mark 1:32–34). As Jesus and the twelve arrive on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, they are met by a man possessed not by one demon, but by a "legion." In the Roman army, a legion consisted of 5120 soldiers; although we don't know the exact number of demons, it is considerable (Mark 5:1–9).

Jesus expels the demons and allows them to enter a herd of pigs, which promptly run into the sea and drown. The nearby townspeople are so distraught they beg Jesus to leave immediately. Although the recently-rescued man wishes to travel with Jesus, Jesus tells him to stay and explain to his friends what has happened. This acts as a kind of target-softening; the next time Mark records Jesus in the area, the people welcome Him and His miracles (Mark 7:31–37). The testimony of the freed man, it seems, will go a long way to making his neighbors receptive to the gospel (Mark 5:11–20).

The most common type of miracle Jesus performed, however, was healing. From Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:30–31) to the paralytic (Mark 2:1–12), to a couple of different crowds (Mark 1:32–34; Mark 3:7–12), Jesus healed many in the area around Capernaum. Here, however, the healings are unique.

Although Jesus frequently sparred with the Pharisees and their scribes, needs often outweigh pride. Back on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus meets one of the rulers of the synagogue whose daughter lies dying. The man begs Jesus to come to his house to heal the girl, and Jesus obliges (Mark 5:21–24).

Before Jesus gets far, however, He feels power going out of Him. He discovers that a woman who suffers from chronic bleeding has had the courage to touch His robe in faith, hoping she will be healed. When she realizes Jesus knows what she did, she is understandably frightened. A woman—a woman with an issue of blood who was therefore considered unclean—touching a rabbi was unheard of. She rightly expects Jesus to be angry despite the deliverance she senses she has received. To her surprise, He calls her "daughter," praises her faith, and blesses her. For the first noted time, Jesus heals with no overt intent; the woman and her faith call on His power and she is healed (Mark 5:25–34).

At this moment, word reaches the synagogue leader that his daughter has died. Jesus assures the man that she has merely fallen asleep, and continues on to the mourning father's house. There, all indications are that she has really passed away. Jesus takes the girl's parents and three of His followers to the girl's bed and brings her back to life. Not only has Jesus healed, He has brought life where there had been none (Mark 5:35–43).
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