Mark 5:3._And no man could bind him, not even with chains _Naturally, he was not able to break the chains; and hence we infer that Satan is sometimes permitted to make extraordinary movements, the effect of which goes beyond our comprehension and beyond ordinary means. We often perceive in madmen mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:6_Worshipped him _(549) The arrangement of the narrative may be thus stated. When the demoniacs came to meet him, Christ ordered _the unclean spirits to go out of them, _and then they prayed and entreated that he would not _torment them before the time _The _worship, _therefore, did not prece... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:9_My name is Legion. _The devil was compelled by Christ to pronounce this word, that he might more fully display the greatness and excellence of his grace. There must have been good reasons why this man should have endured so severe a punishment as to have an army of devils, so to speak, dwel... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:10._And entreated him earnestly _Luke says, they requested that they might not be sent _into the deep _Some explain these words to mean that they wished to avoid uninhabited places. (555) I rather view it as referring to their rage for doing mischief. As the devils have no other object than t... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:15._And they come to Jesus _We have here a striking proof that not all who perceive the hand of God profit as they ought to do by yielding themselves to him in sincere godliness. Having seen the miracle, the Gadarenes were afraid, because the majesty of God shone brightly in Christ. So far th... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:34._Go in peace, and be delivered from thy scourge. _From this exhortation we infer that the benefit which she had obtained was fully ratified, when she heard from the lips of Christ what she had already learned from experience: for we do not truly, or with a safe conscience, enjoy God’s bene... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:36._Fear not, only believe. _The message about her death had induced despair: for he had asked nothing from Christ but relief to the diseased young woman. Christ therefore bids him take care lest, by fear or distrust, he shut out that grace, to which death will be no hindrance. By this expres... [ Continue Reading ]
37._And did not permit any one to follow him. _He forbade that they should be allowed to enter, either because they were unworthy to be his witnesses of the miracle, or because he did not choose that the miracle should be overpowered by a noisy crowd around him. It was better that the young woman, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:39_The girl sleepeth. Sleep _is everywhere in Scripture employed to denote _death; _and there is no doubt but this comparison, taken from temporal rest, points out a future resurrection. But here Christ expressly makes a distinction between _sleep _and _death, _so as to excite an expectation... [ Continue Reading ]
41._And he took hold of her hand, and said to her _Luke 8:54._And he took hold of her hand, and cried _Though naturally this _cry _was of no avail for recalling the senses of the deceased young woman, yet Christ intended to give a magnificent display of the power of his voice, that he might more ful... [ Continue Reading ]
43._And he charged them _Though Christ did not admit all indiscriminately to behold this resurrection, yet the miracle might not have remained long concealed. And it would indeed have been improper to suppress that power of God, by which the whole world ought to be prepared for life. Why then does h... [ Continue Reading ]