** We always have a choice as to how we process what happens in our lives. We can choose to be bitter or better. **

Date:   6/15/2019 2:27:32 AM ( 5 y ago)

** When things do not go your way most people tend to blame someone or something else! They commonly pick other people to explain their failures or problems! Yet, if you will stop and follow this commentary - you should be able to understand that you have a free agency (choice) as to what and when you do whatever in this earthly life! Just read and then stop and pray that you get the full truth as to what God expects from you - i.e. Seek first the Kingdom of God which is the Gospel plan of salvation for each of us - whether we actually choose it or not! It is always available - learn to accept the truth in your life!

Once you understand how this works, your existence will improve vastly as you become Blessed by the whole truth!


< From the Life For Today Study Bible Notes -


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Mark 5
Mark 5:1

Note on Mark 5:1

This deliverance is recorded by Matthew (Matthew 8:28), Mark (Mark 5:1-20), and Luke (Luke 8:27). Matthew 8:28 says there were two demoniacs (see my note at Mark 5:2).

The Gadarenes inhabited the land that was given to the tribe of Gad on the east of the river Jordan (Numbers 32:5 and 29-33).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 2 at Mark 5:1: The city of Gadara was one of ten cities of the Decapolis (see note 1 at Matthew 4:25). The historian Josephus described it as a strong and wealthy city inhabited mostly by Greeks. Its location was about five and one-half miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee at an elevation that allowed a full view of the sea.

Gadara was the capital of a district called Gadaritis located east of the Jordan River and extending north to the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Because of the size and importance of this city, those who dwelt on the east side of the Sea of Galilee were called Gadarenes.

Matthew referred to “the country of the Gergesenes” (Matthew 8:28). Origen, an early Christian historian, was told that an old town named Gergesa existed on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near a place where the land sloped steeply into the lake. The ruins of a town named Kursi have existed at this site in modern times.

The Revised Version uses the name “Gerasenes” in Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26, and 37. This name was probably derived from “Gerasa,” another city in the area. The ruins of Kursi are opposite Magdala and five miles southeast of where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee. Just a short distance south of these ruins is the only place on the eastern coast where steep hills come close enough to the water to meet the conditions of Matthew 8:32, Mark 5:13, and Luke 8:33.
Mark 5:2

Note on Mark 5:2

Why was this man demon possessed? 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because of your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan cannot just devour everyone. What had happened to cause this man to be in such a state? Whatever it was, it didn’t take Jesus long to deal with it and get the demons out. See my note at Isaiah 65:4.

Indeed, there are reasons that things happen, but the approach that some take, where it takes months or years to get to the root of the problem, is not the way Jesus ministered. This case of demon possession was worse than the ones we deal with. Therefore, if this man’s deliverance came in just minutes, we should expect the same.

Matthew’s account of this story records two demon-possessed men. Some have tried to use this difference to discredit the Gospels as a whole. But if there were two men, then there was one man. Mark and Luke don’t state that there was only one man. They just focus on one. That is their prerogative and does not contradict Matthew’s account. It’s possible that this one man’s deliverance was so notable, it overshadowed the other man’s deliverance.
Mark 5:3

Note on Mark 5:3

These demons gave this man superhuman strength. See my note at Luke 8:29.

Luke said this man wore no clothes (Luke 8:27).
Mark 5:4

Note on Mark 5:4

If this man was strong enough to break chains, it must have been quite an effort to put those chains on him. And this had happened often. The people had tried to deal with this problem many times before. But all they could do was bind him unsuccessfully. Jesus didn’t bind him. He loosed him. People’s solutions are ways to bind, while God comes to set the captives free (Luke 4:18-19).
Mark 5:5

Note on Mark 5:5

These demons caused this man to cry day and night and cut himself. Satan only steals, kills, and destroys (John 10:10). The devil lies to people that its bondage to serve the Lord, but just the opposite is true.
Mark 5:6

Note on Mark 5:6

Demons don’t worship Jesus. This man, as demon possessed as he was, still had enough control to fall at Jesus’ feet and worship Him. He had gone so far that he couldn’t get free on his own, but he could worship Jesus. There is no demon- possessed person who can’t exert his will enough to make some step toward the Lord for deliverance. Failure to solicit a faith step towards the Lord will keep a demon-possessed person from getting delivered.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 3 at Mark 5:6: The word “worshipped” is taken from the Greek word “PROSKUNEO,” and it means to “prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)” (Strong’s Concordance). The fact that this tormented man ran to Jesus and not away from Him indicates that even “demon-possessed” people have a free will, and Satan cannot control people without their consent. Also illustrated in this verse is Philippians 2:10-11 (“every knee should bow...And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”) and James 2:19 (“the devils also believe, and tremble,” see note 3 at Mark 1:32).
Mark 5:7

Note on Mark 5:7

This man made a step towards God by falling down and worshiping Jesus. But he was so demon possessed that he couldn’t speak independently of the demons that possessed him.
Mark 5:8

Note on Mark 5:8

In Luke’s account of this same incident (Luke 8:29), it says, “For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.” So in Mark 5:7, these demons were saying these things in response to Jesus’ command. Therefore, we can see that the demons didn’t leave immediately. They argued with Jesus for a while, seeking some concession.
Mark 5:9

Note on Mark 5:9

A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 troops. Therefore, it is supposed that this man had somewhere around 6,000 demons.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 4 at Mark 5:9: Mark and Luke recorded Jesus asking the demon his name, but Matthew did not. In 1 John 4:1-3, we are told to try (test, discern, examine) the spirits to see if they are of God. Discerning of spirits is one of the manifestations of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

According to Mark’s and Luke’s accounts of this passage, Jesus’ command of “come out of the man” was not met with a quick response, as in other cases of deliverance (Mark 1:25-26; Luke 4:33-35, 9:42, and 13:11-13). It appears that finding the “spokesman” for the demons (who identified himself as “Legion”) was prominent in this case. Once the “strong man” (Matthew 12:29) of the group was exposed by identifying himself at Jesus’ command, the other demons, whose power would have been less than their leader, followed him as he left the man’s body.

Whether Jesus actually did not discern the legion of demons or if He did but chose to use this incident as a means to teach His disciples, the demons still knew Him and His authority; the demoniac was delivered. Jesus gave that same authority to His disciples (Matthew 10:1, 8; and Luke 10:1-20).
Mark 5:10

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 5 at Mark 5:10: Scripture implies that once evil spirits have found an individual, a family, or an area in which to dwell, they are unwilling to leave. Examples are iniquities of fathers being passed on to the third and fourth generations (Exodus 34:7 and Deuteronomy 5:9), the spirit gone out of a man seeking to return (Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26), and the fact that demonic “princes” or “kings” of an area exercised spiritual authority over that area (Ezekiel 28:2-19, 38:2-3, 39:1; Daniel 10:12-13, 20; Ephesians 1:21, 6:12; Colossians 1:16, and 2:15). Luke said this man had the devils a “long time,” and Mark said they implored Jesus not to send them “out of the country.” They may have had hopes that after Jesus had gone, they could once again enter the demoniac. Matthew and Luke warned of this possibility (Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26), and the demons may have reasoned that if Jesus permitted them to enter the swine, they would not have to leave the area. People delivered of demons must fill themselves with the presence and power of God to stay free (see note 4 at Matthew 12:44).
Mark 5:11

Note on Mark 5:11

Swine were unclean to the Jews (Leviticus 11:7-8 and Deuteronomy 14:8). So if these swine belonged to Jews, they were being raised in violation of God’s commands.
Mark 5:12

Note on Mark 5:12

This illustrates how demons need a physical body to exert any influence. They are spirits, and only people or even animals with physical bodies have authority to operate on this earth. Therefore, Satan or demons can’t do anything to us without our consent and cooperation. Even a pig has more authority than a demon.
Mark 5:13

Note on Mark 5:13

Pigs are smarter than demon-possessed people. People will often brag about their demons; pigs are so ashamed they kill themselves.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 6 at Mark 5:13: As incredible as it may seem, this demoniac may have been possessed with as many as 2,000 demons based on the fact that 2,000 swine apparently became insane when the demons entered the herd. This shows that the demonic spirits are either very small or, because they do not have physical bodies, are able to occupy the same physical space simultaneously with other spirits. This verse also shows that the same demons that caused insanity in the demoniac caused insanity and self-destruction in the swine. (Swine kill themselves when they become demon-possessed. Many people brag about their demon possession.)

The financial loss on these 2,000 swine must also have been very substantial. If each were worth one day’s wages ($30.00 modern purchasing equivalent), the loss would be at least $60,000. The loss at today’s prices could exceed $150,000.
Mark 5:14

Note on Mark 5:14

It took a period of time for these messengers to run into all these areas and tell the people what had happened. When they arrived where Jesus and the recently-delivered man were, it was at least an hour or two after the fact. During this time, Jesus’ disciples clothed the man, and it’s reasonable to believe that Jesus was giving him instructions on how to stay free.
Mark 5:15

Note on Mark 5:15

This was an instant change in this man’s actions and mental state. It was not a renewing of his mind. Some people experience massive changes instantly because they call out to the Lord and get deliverance. When the devil leaves, they are instantly changed. But other people are dealing with the flesh and an unrenewed mind. In those cases, change comes progressively as they renew the way they think and believe.
Mark 5:16

Note on Mark 5:16

Notice that Jesus and His disciples didn’t publicize this miracle. Others did that for them. The really great miracles of God stir this kind of response. Lord, help me to release Your power to the degree that even unbelievers talk about it.
Mark 5:17

Note on Mark 5:17

Jesus had done a wonderful thing, and yet they wanted him to leave. This is amazing! But it is often the case that a real manifestation of God’s power causes fear in those who observe it. It brings to light their own weaknesses and unbelief and disturbs their paradigm. Rather than change, they want just to escape back to their old way of doing things, even though it isn’t getting the same miraculous results.
Mark 5:18

Note on Mark 5:18

This is amazing! Jesus taught that when people are cleansed of demons, the demons will return seeking to resume their place, and if they aren’t prepared, those people will become demon possessed seven times worse than they were (Matthew 12:45). This would lead to the thinking that it’s irresponsible to minister deliverance without taking the newly-delivered person under your wing for discipleship. But that’s not what Jesus did.

Anyone who has truly been set free wants to be with Jesus.
Mark 5:19

Note on Mark 5:19

This is what the Lord wants all of us to do. Notice that the focus of his testimony was not to be about how he had been delivered of demons, but it was all about God’s great love for him. Our testimonies should always draw people’s attention to the goodness and love of God.
Mark 5:20

Note on Mark 5:20

What a testimony this must have been! These people had seen this man totally demon possessed, and now he is completely normal and proclaiming Jesus as the one who set him free.
Mark 5:21

Note on Mark 5:21

Jesus had been rejected by the Gadarenes, but here were the people on the other side of the sea to receive Him in large numbers and great enthusiasm. There is a lesson here for us. If one group of people rejects us, move on (Matthew 10:23). There are others who will receive our witness (Luke 9:52-56).
Mark 5:22

Note on Mark 5:22

This instance with Jairus was also recorded in Matthew 9:18-19 and 23-26 and in Luke 8:41-42 and 49-56.

Jairus couldn’t get his miracle in the synagogue, of which he was one of the leaders. He had to go outside the church to where the Person was with the miracle-working power. Many people miss their miracles because they think God can only work in the church.
Mark 5:23

Note on Mark 5:23

This synagogue ruler’s faith wasn’t as strong as the Roman centurion’s (Matthew 8:8-12). The centurion didn’t need Jesus to personally come and heal his servant. All he needed was Jesus to speak the word of deliverance. Yet, Jesus didn’t rebuke Jairus for having a weaker faith than the centurion. He met him where his faith was.
Mark 5:24

Note on Mark 5:24

Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures says, “The only example of (here and in verse 31) this compound verb in the N.T., common in old Greek. Were pressing Jesus so that he could hardly move because of the jam, or even to breathe.”
Mark 5:25

Note on Mark 5:25

This woman touching the hem of Jesus’ garment is also recorded in Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48. Luke 6:19 also implies this happened on other occasions too.

It is very possible that Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, knew this woman. She would have been one of his parishioners. Jairus was in a tremendous hurry. His daughter was at the point of death, and as related later in this chapter, she did die before Jesus got to his house. I’m sure Jairus was upset with this delay, but he had the wisdom not to say anything.
Mark 5:26

Note on Mark 5:26

See Adam Clarke’s Commentary and People’s NT Commentary for a list of some physicians’ cures of this woman’s day. Suffice it to say that the medical treatments of this time were superstitious at best and barbaric at worst. I believe that if the Lord tarries and people look back on our medical treatments today, they will think just as badly of our treatments as we do of the medical treatments of this woman’s time.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 3 at Mark 5:26: The Greek word for “suffered” here is “PASCHO,” and it is also used to describe the sufferings of our Lord (Matthew 16:21, 17:12; and 1 Peter 2:23). This is in sharp contrast to the Greek word “EAO.” This was also translated “suffered” and “suffer” but simply means to “permit” (Strong’s Concordance) (Matthew 24:43; Luke 4:41, 22:51; Acts 14:16, 16:7; and 1 Corinthians 10:13). This woman had willfully submitted herself to treatments, which tormented her and took her money for twelve years, simply because there was no alternative.

When Jesus came on the scene offering the sure cure for her problem, it was not unreasonable for this woman to press through the crowd even on her hands and knees (see note 1 at Matthew 9:20) and suffer the shame and possible condemnation of the crowd for breaking the Levitical Law (see note 4 at Mark 5:33). She had endured much worse things pursuing man’s help in vain. Many people would do well to consider the expense and pain they have submitted themselves to at the hands of physicians and put at least an equal amount of effort into prayer, fasting, Bible study, or whatever it takes to release the healing power of God.
Mark 5:27

Note on Mark 5:27

Notice that Jesus didn’t touch this woman; she touched Jesus. Those with an aggressive type of faith make a demand on the Lord instead of just waiting for Him to do something for them. This is similar to the disciples in Matthew 14, when Jesus came to them walking on water but made as though He would have passed by them (Mark 6:48). If they hadn’t cried out to Him, He would have walked right on by.

Many people don’t receive their miracles because they are too passive.

Notice also that this woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. The multitude was thronging Him. There is no way this woman could have just stooped over and touched the hem of His garment in a crowd like this. This implies she was on her hands and knees, pressing through the crowd. She was determined. That’s why she got healed.
Mark 5:28

Note on Mark 5:28

The Greek word that was translated as “whole” here is “SOZO.” This is the New Testament’s all-inclusive word for what Jesus accomplished. It is commonly used to denote forgiveness of sins, but as can be clearly seen in this passage, it also refers to the health of our bodies. Salvation includes forgiveness of sins but also encompasses healing, deliverance, and prosperity.

God’s power is governed by law (see my notes at Mark 5:30 and Luke 8:46). One of the laws of God is “you will have what you say” (Proverbs 18:20-21, Mark 11:23, and Romans 10:10). This woman plugged into God’s power by the words she said. Our tongues will work for us or against us. Many people are hung by their own tongues.

Matthew 9:21 says this woman “said within herself,” implying she didn’t speak this out loud, but this verse in Mark says that she spoke this. There is no contradiction. She did both.
Mark 5:29

Note on Mark 5:29

This healing took place instantly, and the woman could feel that it had happened.
Mark 5:30

Note on Mark 5:30

We can feel when virtue flows out of us, just as Jesus did.

Can it be that Jesus literally didn’t know who touched Him? Many people would just dismiss this as a rhetorical question, but I believe Jesus literally didn’t know who touched Him. This isn’t a claim against His divinity. Rather, this is simply illustrating that Jesus was a God-man. In His spirit, He was totally God and knew all things. But in His physical body, He was a man who had to grow in wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:52). In Jesus’ physical mind, He didn’t know who touched Him. When He asked this question, and the woman didn’t come forward immediately, He drew on the perfect knowledge in His spirit, got a word of knowledge, and singled this woman out. But His question was genuine.

This reveals another great truth. Our Lord didn’t size this woman up and evaluate whether or not she was holy or sincere enough to get healed. He didn’t even know she was coming. Healing doesn’t work by the feelings of the Lord toward us. If it did, then we would be healed, because He loves us. There are laws that govern the release of God’s healing power. This woman put those laws into effect and was healed. Just as electricity flows by laws, not the feelings of the electric company, so healing is governed by law.

We can’t call the power company and ask them to turn on our lights. They generate the power and make sure it is delivered to our residences, but it’s up to us to flip the switch. Likewise, the Lord has healed all our diseases and put that power on the inside of us, but we have to release it by our faith. Begging God to do what He has told us to do will not work any more than begging the electric company to turn on our lights will work.

See my note at Luke 8:46.
Mark 5:31

Note on Mark 5:31

The disciples were thinking physically or carnally. They were only looking at all the people who physically touched Jesus, but Jesus was speaking of someone who touched Him by faith. Many people may go through the motions of seeking Jesus, but there is a life-saving difference when a person touches Jesus in faith. See my note at Luke 8:45.
Mark 5:32

Note on Mark 5:32

Notice that Jesus “looked round about” to see who had done this. He didn’t just instantly know. He had to look and perceive. As mentioned in my note at Mark 5:30, I believe this literally means Jesus didn’t know in advance that this woman was coming and who touched Him. He had that ability to know but hadn’t exercised it in advance.
Mark 5:33

Note on Mark 5:33

According to the Old Testament law, this woman was not supposed to be in public because she had this issue of blood (Leviticus 15). If she was to see someone, she was supposed to warn them of her uncleanness because if they touched her, they would become unclean also. Therefore, she had reason to fear what Jesus or some of these people might do to her if they found out her condition.

Leviticus 15:28-30 commanded an offering after a woman was cleansed of an issue of blood. Jesus didn’t mention that.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 4 at Mark 5:33: According to the Levitical law, not only the person having an issue of blood was unclean, but also those who touched the unclean person became unclean themselves (Leviticus 15:19-33). Those who were unclean were responsible for warning others of their uncleanness or at least avoiding public exposure, and they could expect very harsh treatment if detected. This could be the reason for this woman fearing and trembling as she confessed what had happened to her. Luke said she confessed this to Jesus before all the people (Luke 8:47).

It is also possible that this was a godly fear or awe that this woman experienced as she realized the magnitude of what had happened to her.

Nearly everyone in Scripture who experienced the presence of God in a strong way or had the power of God manifested to them reacted with this awe (Exodus 3:6, 19:16, 20:18-20; Judges 6:22-23, 13:22; Psalms 89:7; Daniel 10:7, 11-12; Matthew 17:6; Luke 8:25, 35; Acts 9:6; and Revelation 1:17).
Mark 5:34

Note on Mark 5:34

Here is that great Greek word for salvation, “SOZO,” being applied to physical healing again. This proves Jesus purchased healing for us in His atonement.

Notice that it was this woman’s faith that made her whole. Jesus didn’t just do this for her. She had a strong, active faith that reached out and took what was available. This is the type of faith all of us should strive for (Jude 3).
Mark 5:35

Note on Mark 5:35

Most people believe death puts people beyond God’s ability to intervene. But Jesus proved that He was able to raise people from the dead just as easily as He healed their bodies.

Jairus could have reacted two ways to this situation with the woman who had the issue of blood. He knew time was critical, and he could have been upset with this woman for the delay that possibly cost his daughter her life. But he could also have taken courage and had his faith bolstered seeing such miraculous healing take place before his eyes. We always have a choice as to how we process what happens in our lives. We can choose to be bitter or better.


Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.

 

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