We are continuing in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today I would like to share my reflections for Mark chapter 5, which surveys a scope of: Jesus’ Surprising Sovereignty.
- Mark chapter 5 has two primary parts: (1) Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac (5:1-20); and (2) Jesus Heals a Woman with a discharge of blood for 12 years and Raises the 12 year old daughter of Jairus (5:21-43).
- Today’s reflection will actually borrow the final verses of Mark 4 and survey the whole of Mark 5. We will move through 4 scenes. Let’s jump in!
Scene 1: Sovereign over Nature
- Mark 4 ends with the account of Jesus calming a storm. These disciples, some of whom have spent their whole lives upon the lake, experience a horrendous storm. The storm was so bad that they thought they were going to die. So they wake up Jesus and cry out: “Teacher, do you not care that we are parishing” (4:38)?
- Jesus wakes up and literally “rebukes the wind” – he speaks to the sea, “Peace! Be Still”
- And just like that, “the wind ceased.” I love the way verse 39 ends – “there was a great calm.” Whereas there was “a great windstorm” — now there is “a great calm.”
- I cannot imagine what kind of thoughts and feelings would be going through my mind – simply the physical aspect of it — that my body was being thrashed to and fro in this small boat. Then all of a sudden a total calm.
- One thing that is clear, verse 41 says that the disciples “were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- Where they previously feared the inevitability of their death — now they are filled with a greater fear! Notice the repetition again of the word “great.” A great storm, a great calm, and now a great fear! In someways, the sea is something they understood and death was something they had dealt with before – but this… this… this was something they had never seen, nor could they really wrap their minds around it!
- For more on this topic, I recommend reading “The Holiness of God” by R.C. Sproul,[1] specifically the chapter entitled “The Trauma of Holiness” which walks through this very scene, see the link in the description.
- But one thing is clear from this section, Jesus is Sovereign over Nature!
Scene 2: Sovereign over the Powers of Darkness
- After experiencing the calming of the storm, the group arrives on the other side of the sea to be met be “a man with an unclean spirit” (5:2) – he was so wild that he could not be bound with a chain — people tired, but “he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him” (5:4).
- Upon his arrival, while Jesus was still far off, this man saw him – he ran to him and fell down before Jesus “crying out with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” (5:7).
- What scene! Can you imagine it as a disciple — here comes running towards us a man covered with cuts and unable to be subdued by anyone. He runs up to your Master and falls at His feet.
- Jesus needed no brute strength, He required no chain, by His presence He subdued the power of darkness that dwelt in that man. All He had to do was speak, and at His command, they left the man.
- Where once a great spiritual storm consumed this man, there is a great calm — the people of that city “came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind” (5:15) — and once again, the response to this tremendous power was fear!
- Upon his arrival, while Jesus was still far off, this man saw him – he ran to him and fell down before Jesus “crying out with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” (5:7).
- While we may have many questions about this passage, one thing is clear from this scene, Jesus is Sovereign over the Powers of Darkness!
Scene 3: Sovereign over Chronic Ailments
- Jesus left that area and crossed back to the other side of the sea only to be met by another great crowd. A father approached him with the request to help his sick daughter. But on the way, He was interrupted by a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for 12 years.
- It is interesting to see how Mark notes that she “suffered much under many physicians, and spent all that she had” … and only grew worse. This woman had tried everything. No money left in the account, no physician was able to help, no clear path forward.
- But she had heard about this person named Jesus – and she believed if she could just touch Jesus’ garment that she would be healed. (NOTE: it was not that she trust some kind of magical clothes, but rather the power of the One who wore them.)
- She pressed through the crowd and did touch his garments! And Jesus spoke to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mark 5:34).
- Where every intervention that was available to this woman had failed, the power of Jesus succeeded.
- And once again, one thing is clear from this section, Jesus is Sovereign over Chronic Ailments.
Scene 4: Sovereign over Death
- The father who had approached Jesus, who was now delayed by this woman, received word that his daughter was dead. But Jesus interjected, saying, “Do not fear, only believe” (5:36). When they arrived at the man’s house, the weeping and wailing had already started. You can only imagine the pit in the father’s stomach, as those who were at the daughter’s bedside are now seen weeping.
- Jesus takes a small audience – the child’s father, mother, Peter, James and John – and go to where the child was.
- He takes her by the hand and says to her “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (5:41). And, as Mark likes to say, “IMMEDIATELY” she got up!
- Where the disciples may have thought that Jesus’ power to heal was limited to subjects that were still living, this blew that thought out of the water! Not only is Jesus sovereign over sickness…
- Jesus is Sovereign over Death
- And that would be most clearly seen and declared in His own Resurrection!
Conclusion:
- In each of these scenes, we see — in part — the breaking through of the Kingdom of God into our sin sick world.
- What is your reaction to this display of the Surprising Sovereignty of Jesus? Do you, like the disciples and the healed woman, respond with a reverent fear (4:41; 5:33)? Do you, like the man previously possessed by “Legion,” long to be with Jesus (5:20)? Are you, like the parents who received their 12 year old daughter back from the jaws of death, overcome with amazement (5:43)?
- Have you encountered this Sovereign Jesus? There is nothing outside the sphere of His Sovereignty. And therefore, there is no hurt beyond His healing; no challenge in your life stronger than He; no burden that you cannot bring to Him. After going through this chapter, I took some time to worship the Lord through the song “The Lord Almighty Reigns (Psalm 93)” by Sovereign Grace. I have added a link to the description.
- Which part of Mark 5 grabbed your heart? This week, how are you going to walk in faith in this awesome Christ? Do you have thoughts about Mark 5? Let me know in the comments below! If you have not already, please join us in this Summer Reading Challenge. I have included a link to find the PDF for the reading plan in the description below.
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