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Begin Section 1: Mark 5 Text & Questions

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Verses 1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

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1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.

2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

7He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

8For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

9Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.

12The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

13He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.

17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

19Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

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1)       Which is the more unconditional command for the impure spirit to come out of the demoniac, ‘Come out of this man!’ or ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’, and why?

 

2)       What was Jesus inviting the impure spirit to do then in the current situation?

 

3)       According to verse 7 what did the impure spirit divulge about the identity of Jesus?

 

4)       Why did Jesus not forbid the impure spirit to divulge his identity in the current chapter, given that the disciples at the end of the previous chapter raised the unanswered question about who Jesus was?

 

5)       Why was the impure spirit fearful that Jesus would torture him, given that the impure spirit had perpetrated horrendous torture on the demoniac?

 

6)       What was the basis of the impure spirit’s accusation that Jesus would torture him when in reality there is not one single reference in the gospel accounts of Jesus torturing impure spirits?

 

7)       In reality who was the torturer and who was the tortured in the current situation?

 

8)       What was the impure spirit guilty of in the accusation of torture against Jesus, given that the impure spirit had perpetrated horrendous torture on the demoniac?

 

9)       How did Jesus respond in verse 9 to the impure spirit’s plea not to torture him?

 

10)   What is a Legion?

 

11)   What would the Legion do if Jesus granted the Legion’s plea to stay in the area after coming out of the demoniac, given that demons possess people?

 

12)   How did demons that were members of the Legion attempt in verse 12 to mask their wicked intent?

 

13)   What could be said about the wit of the demons involving the pigs on the spot to secure Jesus’ consent?

 

14)   According to verse 13 what did the Legion do next upon receiving permission from Jesus to go into the pigs?

 

15)   What were the character traits of the Legion that we have seen?

 

16)   Was the area predominantly pagan, given that Jews do not eat pork and that the herd of pigs numbered about two thousand?

 

17)   According to verses 15 and 16 were people afraid only after they heard an account of what happened and why?

 

18)   Why did the people beg Jesus to leave, given that they had suffered the loss of two thousand pigs?

 

19)   Why did the former demoniac beg to go with Jesus?

 

20)   How was the current episode of driving out the Legion different from other episodes of driving out demons we have seen so far?

 

21)   Why did Jesus handle the current episode of driving out the Legion differently, given that the former demoniac needed a personal testimony in order to tell people how much the Lord had done for him?

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Verses 1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

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Verses 21-43 Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.

22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.

23He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”

24So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

39He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

40But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.

41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

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22)   What was the social status of Jairus, given that he was a synagogue leader?

 

23)   What did Jairus falling at Jesus’ feet and pleading earnestly with Jesus for help indicate?

 

24)   Why did the woman touch Jesus’ cloak expecting to be healed, given that she had heard incidents of healing by Jesus and Jesus attributing people's healing to their faith in him?

 

25)   How did the woman finally get healed?

 

26)   Why did Jesus insist on the woman stepping forward from the crowd, given that she then told him the whole truth in front of everybody?

 

27)   When Jairus was told that his daughter had just died and that he should not bother Jesus any more, how did Jesus’ words for him to not be afraid but just believe sustain his faith?

 

28)   Why did Jesus allow only Peter, James and John to follow him on his way to Jairus’ home, given that they belonged in the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples?

 

29)   Why were professional mourners at Jairus’ home, given that they did the work of mourning when someone had just died?

 

30)   How did Jairus get to know Jesus better from what happened to his daughter in the end?

 

31)   How did Peter, James and John get to know Jesus better through this episode?

 

32)   Who were depicted as falling at Jesus’ feet so far in the gospel of Mark?

 

33)   Did those who fell at Jesus’ feet get to know Jesus better and why?

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Verses 21-43 Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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End Section 1: Mark 5 Text & Questions

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Begin Section 2: Mark 5 Questions & Answers

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Verses 1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

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Concerning Jesus’ deliverance of the man with an impure spirit,

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1)       Which is the more unconditional command for the impure spirit to come out of the demoniac, ‘Come out of this man!’ or ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’, and why?

o   The shorter form is the more unconditional command.

o   The longer form had the focus of attention shifted

§  From the demoniac.

§  To the impure spirit.

 

2)       What was Jesus inviting the impure spirit to do then in the current situation?

o   Jesus was inviting the impure spirit into a conversation.

 

3)       According to verse 7 what did the impure spirit divulge about the identity of Jesus?

o   The impure spirit divulged the identity of Jesus as the Son of the Most High God.

 

4)       Why did Jesus not forbid the impure spirit to divulge his identity in the current chapter, given that the disciples at the end of the previous chapter raised the unanswered question about who Jesus was?

o   Jesus let the impure spirit fill in the blank.

 

5)       Why was the impure spirit fearful that Jesus would torture him, given that the impure spirit had perpetrated horrendous torture on the demoniac?

o   The impure spirit was fearful.

o   That

o   Jesus would pay him back.

 

6)       What was the basis of the impure spirit’s accusation that Jesus would torture him when in reality there is not one single reference in the gospel accounts of Jesus torturing impure spirits?

o   It was accusation without cause.

 

7)       In reality who was the torturer and who was the tortured in the current situation?

o   The impure spirit was the torturer.

o   The demoniac was the tortured.

 

8)       What was the impure spirit guilty of in the accusation of torture against Jesus, given that the impure spirit had perpetrated horrendous torture on the demoniac?

o   Hypocrisy.

 

9)       How did Jesus respond in verse 9 to the impure spirit’s plea not to torture him?

o   Jesus softened his tone by asking the impure spirit an almost friendly and endearing question about his name.

 

10)   What is a Legion?

o   A Legion is a unit of 3,000–6,000 men in the ancient Roman army.

 

11)   What would the Legion do if Jesus granted the Legion’s plea to stay in the area after coming out of the demoniac, given that demons possess people?

o   The Legion would immediately find another person in the area to

§  Possess.

§  And torture.

 

12)   How did demons that were members of the Legion attempt in verse 12 to mask their wicked intent?

o   They instead asked for permission to go into the pigs.

 

13)   What could be said about the wit of the demons involving the pigs on the spot to secure Jesus’ consent?

o   It was quick wit for wickedness’ sake.

 

14)   According to verse 13 what did the Legion do next upon receiving permission from Jesus to go into the pigs?

o   The Legion immediately

§  Came out of the demoniac.

§  Went into the pigs.

§  Caused the pigs to rush down the steep bank into the lake to drown.

§  Came out of the dead pigs.

§  And went on their way to find another person to

Ø  Possess. 

Ø  And torture.

 

15)   What were the character traits of the Legion that we have seen?

o   The Legion was

§  Possessive.

§  Torturous.

§  Accusatory without cause.

§  Hypocritical.

§  Fearful of retribution for their wicked deed.

§  Nagging.

§  Quick-witted for wickedness’ sake.

§  And united in action and words.

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Concerning the reaction of the locals to Jesus’ deliverance of the man with an impure spirit,

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16)   Was the area predominantly pagan, given that Jews do not eat pork and that the herd of pigs numbered about two thousand?

o   Yes, because pigs were in the area a popular livestock with

§  Large herds.

§  And owners in the

Ø  Town. 

Ø  And countryside.

 

17)   According to verses 15 and 16 were people afraid only after they heard an account of what happened and why?

o   No, because they were afraid at the mere sight of the former demoniac turned into a normal person.

o   Before

o   They heard the account of what happened.

 

18)   Why did the people beg Jesus to leave, given that they had suffered the loss of two thousand pigs?

o   Two thousand pigs were worth a lot of money.

o   They did not want to suffer more losses. 

 

19)   Why did the former demoniac beg to go with Jesus?

o   He was seeking more spiritual blessing by asking to follow Jesus.

 

20)   How was the current episode of driving out the Legion different from other episodes of driving out demons we have seen so far?

o   In the current episode Jesus

§  Struck up a conversation with the demons.

§  And granted the demons a conditional coming out of the demoniac.

 

21)   Why did Jesus handle the current episode of driving out the Legion differently, given that the former demoniac needed a personal testimony in order to tell people how much the Lord had done for him?

o   Jesus was giving the former demoniac a personal testimony that was

§  Dramatic.

§  And attention-grabbing.

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Verses 1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

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Verses 21-43 Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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Concerning Jairus’ request for Jesus to heal his daughter,

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22)   What was the social status of Jairus, given that he was a synagogue leader?

o   As a synagogue leader Jairus was a man of means and respect in the Jewish community.

 

23)   What does Jairus falling at Jesus’ feet and pleading earnestly with Jesus for help indicate?

o   It indicates his

§  Humility.

§  And desperation.

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Concerning Jesus healing the woman who was subject to bleeding,

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24)   Why did the woman touch Jesus’ cloak expecting to be healed, given that she must have heard incidents of healing by Jesus and Jesus attributing people's healing to their faith in him?

o   She had learned to approach Jesus by faith for healing.

 

25)   How did the woman finally get healed?

o   By faith she touched Jesus’ cloak, which

§  Cost her nothing.

§  Caused her no pain.

§  And finally healed her.

 

26)   Why did Jesus insist on the woman stepping forward from the crowd, given that she then told him the whole truth in front of everybody?

o   Jesus was exacting from her a public testimony of the entire event of her healing.

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Concerning Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter,

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27)   When Jairus was told that his daughter had just died and that he should not bother Jesus any more, how did Jesus’ words for him to not be afraid but just believe sustain his faith?

o   Upon hearing Jesus’ words Jairus continued to walk with Jesus toward his house.

 

28)   Why did Jesus allow only Peter, James and John to follow him on his way to Jairus’ house, given that they belonged in the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples?

o   Jesus reserved some of the revelation about himself to his inner circle of disciples only.

 

29)   Why were professional mourners at Jairus’ house, given that they did the work of mourning when someone had just died?

o   The child must have been close to being dead.

o   When

o   Jairus went and looked for Jesus.

 

30)   How did Jairus get to know Jesus better from what happened to his daughter in the end?

o   At first Jairus asked Jesus to heal his dying daughter.

o   Jesus ended up raising his deceased daughter from the dead.

 

31)   How did Peter, James and John get to know Jesus better through this episode?

o   This is the first time they saw Jesus raise a person from the dead.

 

32)   Who were depicted as falling at Jesus’ feet so far in the gospel of Mark?

o   In chapter 1 the leper fell at Jesus’ feet.

o   In the current chapter the demoniac fell at Jesus’ feet. 

o   In the current chapter Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet.

o   In the current chapter the woman who was subject to bleeding fell at Jesus’ feet.

 

33)   Did those who fell at Jesus’ feet get to know Jesus better and why?

o   The leper was healed by Jesus

§  Not only physically.

§  But also emotionally.

o   The former demoniac

§  Was not only delivered by Jesus from demon possession.

§  But also got to know Jesus as the Son of the Most High God.

o   The woman who was subject to bleeding

§  Not only heard about healings by Jesus.

§  But also experienced it.

o   Jairus got to know Jesus who

§  Not only could heal.

§  But also raise the dead.

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Verses 21-43 Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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End Section 2: Mark 5 Questions & Answers

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