Shame to Glory: The Healing of The Messiah, Mark 4:35–5:43

Mark 4:35–5:43 ESV

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And 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.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So 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. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And 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. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And 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.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. 21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and 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.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And 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. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

God's Servant, Jesus Christ, stands as the Master of every situation and the Conqueror of every enemy. Trusting Him and following His commands dispels fear. Victory is the overarching theme in this extensive passage, which Mark illustrates through four miracles, each one declaring the defeat of an enemy.

Victory over Danger (Mark 4:35–41)

Mark 4:35–41 ESV

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

On the same day Jesus shared the "parables of the kingdom," He presented His disciples with a practical test. They had been absorbing His teachings, but now it was time to see how deeply those lessons had taken root. Remember, hearing God's Word is meant to cultivate faith (Romans 10:17), and that faith must be tested. It's not enough to merely learn and recite; we must live out those lessons by faith, and trials are often the means through which God refines us.

Did Jesus know a storm was coming? Absolutely. That storm was part of the day's curriculum, designed to teach the disciples a critical lesson: Jesus can be trusted in life's storms. People often think storms come only as a result of disobedience, but this isn’t always true. Jonah faced a storm due to disobedience, but the disciples encountered a storm precisely because they obeyed the Lord.

The Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden, violent storms. This particular storm must have been fierce to terrify experienced fishermen like the disciples. However, there were three reasons why they shouldn't have been afraid, even when the situation looked dire.

First, Jesus promised they would reach the other side (Mark 4:35). His commandments are His enablements, and nothing can thwart His plans. He didn't promise an easy journey, but He did promise a guaranteed arrival.

Second, the Lord Himself was with them. They had already witnessed His power in miracles, so they should have trusted He could handle this situation too. The disciples didn't yet grasp that Jesus was indeed the Master of every situation.

Finally, Jesus' peace in the storm should have reassured them. He slept through it, secure in the Father’s care. Unlike Jonah, who slept during a storm out of false security while running from God, Jesus slept because He was secure in God's will. As the Psalmist says, "I will both lie down in peace and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).

In life's trials, we're often like the disciples, crying out, "Lord, don't You care?" Of course, He cares! He calmed the storm, bringing a great peace. But Jesus also addressed a more significant issue—the unbelief in the disciples' hearts. Our greatest problems lie within us, not around us. Jesus gently rebuked them, calling them "men of little faith." They had heard His teachings and seen His miracles, yet they lacked faith. Their unbelief caused their fear, and their fear led them to question Jesus' care. We must guard against "an evil heart of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:12).

This was just one of many lessons Jesus would teach His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Each lesson revealed more about Jesus' divine authority. They already knew He could forgive sins, cast out demons, and heal diseases. Now they saw His authority over nature, learning they had no reason to fear, for their Lord controlled every situation.

Victory over Demons (Mark 5:1–20)

Mark 5:1–20 ESV

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And 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.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So 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. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And 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. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And 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.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Upon landing on the other side, Jesus and His disciples met two demon-possessed men, one of whom was particularly vocal (see Matthew 8:28). This scene might seem surreal in our modern context but is very real in many mission fields. Some scholars even believe demon possession is becoming more prevalent in today's society.

Here, we observe three forces: Satan, society, and the Savior. These forces still vie for control over people’s lives today.

First, look at what Satan can do. He's a thief whose ultimate goal is destruction (John 10:10; Revelation 9:11). We don’t know how these men became demon-possessed, but it likely involved yielding to sin. Demons, "unclean spirits," gain footholds in those who indulge in sinful practices.

By succumbing to Satan, these men lost everything—home, family, decency, self-control, peace, and purpose. They lived like wild animals, screaming and self-harming, terrorizing the locals. They would have remained in this plight if Jesus hadn't come through the storm to save them.

Never underestimate Satan's destructive power. He's our enemy, seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8-9). Satan works in unbelievers, making them "children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1-3). The demoniacs in Gerasa are extreme examples, but they show why we must resist Satan and avoid his influence.

Society's response was to isolate and restrain these men, but society can't solve problems caused by Satan and sin. Despite all its advancements, society can only offer limited protection and restraint.

In contrast, Jesus came to them with love, even enduring a storm to reach them. Some think the storm was satanic in origin, an attempt to thwart Jesus. But nothing could stop Jesus from reaching the demoniacs and delivering them.

Jesus spoke to the men, allowing them to speak to Him, unlike the citizens who avoided them. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The demons, speaking through the men, confessed their belief in Jesus' authority and the reality of judgment, which is more than many today believe.

Scripture doesn't explain the details of demon possession, but it reveals the torment these men endured. Satan sought to destroy them, but Jesus delivered them with a word. The demons begged not to be sent into the abyss (Mark 5:7; Luke 8:31), showing they believed in prayer too. Satan can only know God's plans if God reveals them. There’s no evidence Satan can read a believer's mind.

Three requests follow in Mark 5: the demons asked to enter the pigs (Mark 5:12), the citizens asked Jesus to leave (Mark 5:17), and the healed demoniac asked to follow Jesus (Mark 5:18). Jesus granted the first two requests but not the third.

Did Jesus have the right to destroy 2,000 pigs, potentially ruining the owners? If they were Jews, they shouldn't have been raising unclean pigs. If Gentiles, Jesus still had the right to send the demons where He chose. Sending them into the pigs demonstrated a true miracle and reassured the men the demons were gone. It also warned the citizens about sin and Satan's destructive power.

The swineherds told the owners, who saw the transformed men and were afraid. Instead of celebrating, they asked Jesus to leave, fearing more economic loss. Jesus doesn’t stay where He isn't wanted, so He left, and the people missed an incredible opportunity.

Jesus told the healed man to stay and witness to his family. Effective Christian living starts at home, and this man became an early missionary to the Gentiles.

Victory over Disease (Mark 5:21–34)

Mark 5:21–34 ESV

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and 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.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

While one crowd watched Jesus leave, another welcomed Him back to Capernaum. Among them were Jairus, desperate for his dying daughter, and an anonymous woman suffering from an incurable disease.

The contrast between Jairus and the woman is striking, revealing Jesus' boundless love and mercy. Jairus, a synagogue officer, was important; the woman, a "nobody." Jesus helped both. Jairus faced losing a daughter who brought twelve years of happiness; the woman sought to end twelve years of suffering. Jairus was likely wealthy, but his wealth couldn’t save his daughter. The woman was bankrupt after spending all on ineffective treatments. Both found their answers at Jesus’ feet (Mark 5:22, 33).

The woman's hemorrhage was incurable, causing pain, emotional strain, and social isolation due to her ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 15:19ff). Despite numerous reasons to stay away, she pushed through the crowd to Jesus. Her faith was weak and perhaps superstitious, thinking she needed to touch His clothes to be healed. Yet Jesus honored her faith and healed her.

Jesus didn't let her slip away unnoticed. He called her forward to publicly acknowledge her healing, for her own sake, for Jairus' encouragement, and to glorify God through her testimony. Jesus' words of assurance and love transformed her beyond physical healing, calling her "daughter" and sending her with peace (Mark 5:34).

Victory over Death (Mark 5:35–43)

Jairus' plea to Jesus was a bold, public act, risking disapproval from other religious leaders. Desperation drove him, as it does many to Jesus. Jesus’ words guided Jairus to victory.

First, He spoke a word of faith: "Don't be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36). Amidst overwhelming sorrow, Jairus needed to choose faith in Jesus over the grim news. Jesus encouraged Jairus to keep believing despite delays and discouragements.

Second, Jesus gave a word of hope: "The child is not dead but asleep" (Mark 5:39). To the believer, death is like sleep, as the body rests awaiting resurrection. This truth brings comfort to those who mourn, knowing their loved ones rest in Christ.

Finally, Jesus spoke a word of love and power: "Little girl, get up!" (Mark 5:41). Her spirit returned, and she was healed completely, able to get out of bed and walk. Jesus, ever the loving Physician, instructed the parents to give her food, ensuring her strength.

As with previous miracles, Jesus told the witnesses to keep quiet (Mark 1:44; 3:12). Perhaps the word got out from the mourners that the girl had been “in a coma” and had not actually been dead. According to them, there had not been a miracle after all! However, there had been witnesses to the miracle. The Law required only two or three witnesses for confirmation of truth (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15), but for this miracle, there were five witnesses. We have reason to conclude that Jairus and his wife became believers in Jesus Christ, though there is no further mention of them in the Gospel record. All her life, the daughter was a witness to the power of Jesus Christ.

Yes, God’s Servant is the conqueror over danger, demons, disease, and death. This series of miracles illustrates how Jesus met and helped all kinds of people, from His own disciples to a pair of demoniacs; and it assures us that He is able to help us today.

This does not mean that God always must rescue His people from danger (see Acts 12) or heal every affliction (see 2 Corinthians 12:1–10); but it does mean that He holds the ultimate authority and that we need never fear. We are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).