The Demons and the Pigs
(Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–39)

1On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.a 2As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. 3This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. 4Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him. 7And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” 8For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

9“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.

11There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. 12So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

13He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.b

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, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

16Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs. 17And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

18As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 19But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

20So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolisc how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The Healing Touch of Jesus
(Matthew 9:18–26; Luke 8:40–56)

21When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. 22A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet 23and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

24So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. 25And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. 26She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

27When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

31His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32But He kept looking around to see who had done this. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

34“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

35While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

36But Jesus overheardd their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” 37And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

38When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly. 39He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” 40And they laughed at Him.

After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child. 41Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded. 43Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

1. The Power of Faith Over Fear
In Mark 5, we encounter a man possessed by a legion of demons, living among the tombs and feared by all. Yet, when he sees Jesus, he runs to Him and falls at His feet. This act of faith, even from a tormented soul, shows us that faith can overcome any fear. As Jesus said in Mark 5:36, "Do not be afraid; only believe." This lesson reminds us that no matter how daunting our circumstances, faith in Christ can bring us peace and deliverance.

2. Jesus’ Authority Over Evil
The story of the demon-possessed man also highlights Jesus' supreme authority over evil. When the demons begged Jesus not to send them out of the region, He permitted them to enter a herd of pigs, which then rushed into the sea and drowned. This demonstrates that Jesus has ultimate control over all spiritual forces. As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

3. The Transformative Power of Jesus
After Jesus cast out the demons, the man was found "sitting there, clothed and in his right mind" (Mark 5:15). This transformation is a testament to the life-changing power of Jesus. No matter how broken or lost we may feel, Jesus can restore us to wholeness. This encourages us to seek Him earnestly, trusting in His ability to renew our minds and hearts.

4. The Importance of Personal Testimony
When the healed man wanted to follow Jesus, He instructed him to "go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you" (Mark 5:19). Sharing our personal testimonies can be a powerful tool for evangelism. By recounting how Jesus has worked in our lives, we can inspire others to seek Him and experience His love and grace.

5. Jesus’ Compassion for the Desperate
In the story of Jairus and his dying daughter, we see Jesus' compassion for those in desperate situations. Despite the crowd pressing around Him, Jesus took the time to go with Jairus. This shows us that Jesus cares deeply for each of us, no matter how busy or chaotic life may seem. As Psalm 34:18 reminds us, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

6. The Power of a Touch
The woman with the issue of blood had suffered for twelve years, yet she believed that touching Jesus' cloak would heal her. Her faith was rewarded, and Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (Mark 5:34). This teaches us that even the smallest act of faith can lead to miraculous outcomes. We should never underestimate the power of reaching out to Jesus in our times of need.

7. Persistence in Prayer
Jairus' persistence in seeking Jesus for his daughter's healing is a lesson in the power of persistent prayer. Despite the news of her death, Jesus encouraged him to "just believe" (Mark 5:36). This reminds us to remain steadfast in prayer, trusting that God hears us and will act according to His perfect will.

8. Jesus’ Power Over Death
When Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, He demonstrated His power over death itself. He took her by the hand and said, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" (Mark 5:41). This miracle foreshadows His own resurrection and assures us of the hope we have in eternal life through Him. As believers, we can face death without fear, knowing that Jesus has conquered it.

9. The Value of Childlike Faith
Jesus' gentle approach to Jairus' daughter, addressing her as "little girl," highlights the value of childlike faith. Children trust without reservation, and Jesus calls us to have a similar faith in Him. In Matthew 18:3, He says, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This encourages us to trust Him wholeheartedly, with the simplicity and sincerity of a child.

10. The Call to Witness
Finally, Mark 5 concludes with the healed man proclaiming in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and "all the people were amazed" (Mark 5:20). This underscores our call to be witnesses of Christ's work in our lives. By sharing our stories, we can spread the good news and draw others to the saving grace of Jesus. Let us be bold in our witness, knowing that our testimonies can lead others to faith.

Ask for increased faith to approach Jesus with confidence, believing in His power to heal and restore.

Seek courage and hope in situations that seem beyond repair, trusting in Jesus' promise of life and resurrection.

Intercede for those who are spiritually oppressed or physically afflicted, that they may experience Jesus' transformative power.

2. Mark 5:14–17: If a massive herd of drowned pigs caused such a stir, why is there no historical or archaeological evidence of it?

3. Mark 5:25–29: How could simply touching Jesus’ garment medically cure a woman’s long-term bleeding issue without any other intervention?

4. Mark 5:35–42: Was Jairus’s daughter truly dead, or could she have been in a coma, making her “resurrection” more of a misdiagnosis?

5. Mark 5 (general): Why do these dramatic miracles go uncorroborated by other contemporary sources or historical records from that period?

1. How does Jesus' authority over demonic powers, as seen in the healing of the demon-possessed man, affect your understanding of His power?

2. How does the healed demoniac's response provide a model for us after we experience Jesus' transformation in our lives?

3. What does the healing of the woman with the issue of blood reveal about Jesus' attitude towards social outcasts?

4. How can Jairus's approach to Jesus in his moment of desperation guide us when we face desperate situations?

5. In what ways can the healing of the woman with the issue of blood encourage you to approach Jesus with faith and expect healing?

6. How does the reaction of the crowd differ in each miracle, and what does this tell us about public perceptions of Jesus?

7. What is the significance of Jesus' words, "Don't be afraid; just believe," in the context of Jairus's daughter and our own lives?

8. How does the compassion and power of Jesus displayed in Mark 5 influence your relationship with Him?

9. How does the transformation of the demon-possessed man inspire you to believe in Jesus' ability to transform lives today?

10. How can we demonstrate faith like the woman with the issue of blood in our everyday lives?

11. How can we use our own 'healing' experiences to spread the good news like the demon-possessed man did in the Decapolis?

12. How does the resurrection of Jairus's daughter expand our understanding of Jesus' authority over life and death?

13. What does the response of Jairus's household to his daughter's resurrection teach us about responding to miracles?

14. How can we develop faith like Jairus in our prayer life?

15. In what ways can the faith of the woman and Jairus serve as examples for us in today's world?

16. How might you have reacted if you were a part of the crowd witnessing these miracles?

17. What steps can you take to bring about healing and restoration in your community, inspired by Jesus' actions in Mark 5?

18. In the face of skeptics or people who laugh, like in the case of Jairus's daughter, how can you continue to maintain your faith?

19. How does Jesus' interaction with the woman suffering from bleeding challenge societal norms then and now?

20. How do these stories inform your understanding of Jesus' compassion, and how can you demonstrate similar compassion in your interactions with others?