Mark 5:1-20

Mark 5:1-20

[1] And  they came over  unto  the other side  of the sea,  into  the country  [2] And  when he  was come  out of  the ship,  immediately  him  out of  the tombs  a man  with  an unclean  spirit,  [3] Who  had  his dwelling  among  and  no man  could  bind  him,  with chains:  [4] Because  that he  had been often  bound  with fetters  and  chains,  and  the chains  had been plucked asunder  by  him,  and  the fetters  broken in pieces:  neither  could  any man tame  him.  [5] And  night  and  day,  in  the mountains,  and  in  the tombs,  crying,  and  cutting  himself  with stones.  [6] Jesus  afar off,  he ran  and  worshipped  him,  [7] And  cried  with a loud  voice,  What  to do  Jesus,  thou Son  of the most high  God?  I adjure  by God,  that thou torment  not.  [8] For  unto him,  Come  out of  the man,  thou unclean  spirit.  [9] And  he asked  him,  What  name?  And  saying,  name  is Legion:  for  many.  [10] And  he besought  him  much  them  away  out of  the country.  [11] Now  there  nigh  unto the mountains  a great  herd  of swine  feeding.  [12] And  besought  him,  saying,  Send  into  the swine,  that  we may enter  into  them.  [13] And  them  leave.  And  the unclean  spirits  went out,  and entered  into  the swine:  and  the herd  ran  violently down  a steep place  into  the sea,  about  two thousand;)  and  were choked  in  the sea.  [14] they that fed  fled,  and  it in  the city,  and  in  the country.  And  what  that was done.  [15] And  they come  to  Jesus,  and  see  him that was possessed with the devil,  and had  the legion,  sitting,  and  clothed,  and  in his right mind:  and  they were afraid.  [16] And  it told  them  how  it befell  to him that was possessed with the devil,  and  also concerning  the swine.  [17] And  they began  to pray  him  to depart  out of  their  coasts.  [18] And  when he  was come  into  the ship,  he that had been possessed with the devil  prayed  him  that  with  him.  [19] suffered  him  not,  but  saith  unto him,  Go  home  to  thy friends,  and  them  how great things  the Lord  hath done  and  hath had compassion  [20] And  he departed,  and  began  to publish  in  Decapolis  how great things  Jesus  had done  for him:  and  all  men did marvel. 

What does Mark 5:1-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Even though Mark had already reported that Jesus had exorcized many demons, this case was extraordinary.
"Christ, Who had been charged by the Pharisees with being the embodiment and messenger of Satan [1], is here face to face with the extreme manifestation of demoniac power and influence. It is once more, then, a Miracle in Parable which is about to take place. The question, which had been raised by the enemies, is about to be brought to the issue of a practical demonstration." [2]
"This account, more graphically than any other in the Gospels, indicates that the function of demonic possession is to distort and destroy the image of God in man." [3]