good word usa

mark's gospel

why i believe

good word usa

Wild Man Set Free

Then they reached the land of the Gadarenes, on the opposite shore of the sea.  And as He left the boat, He was met by a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit.  This man lived among the tombs because no one was able to confine him any more, not even with chains.  He had often been confined with shackles on his feet and chains on his body.  But he had ripped the chains apart, and the shackles had been destroyed, and no one could control him.  And all night and all day, he was in the tombs and in the hills, shrieking and cutting himself with stones.

But he had seen Jesus at a distance, and had run and had fallen down to worship Him.  Now screaming with a loud voice, he shouted, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you before God, do not torment me!”  For Jesus had said to him, “Get out, you unclean spirit!  Out of the man!”

Then He asked him. “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion!  Because we are many!”  Then he earnestly begged Him not to send them beyond the region.

Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding there by the mountain.  So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, so that we may enter into them.”  Jesus immediately gave them permission.  So the evil spirits went out and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed over a cliff into the sea.  And about two thousand of them drowned in the sea.  Then those who kept the pigs ran away, spreading the news in town and across the countryside.

Now the people came out to see what had happened.  When they came to Jesus, they stared at the demon-possessed man, the one who had been possessed by the legion, who was now clothed and sitting down, and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  Then the witnesses told them what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and about the pigs.  And the people began asking Jesus to leave their area.

When He got into the boat, the man who’d been demon-possessed pleaded with Him, wanting to stay with Him.  But Jesus didn’t allow him to go.  And He told him, “Go home to your own people, and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”  So the man left and began preaching among the Ten Cities, telling how much Jesus had done for him.  And all the people were amazed.

 Giver of Life

Now when Jesus returned by boat to the other side, a huge crowd had gathered for Him.  And He was by the sea.  Then one of the leaders of the synagogue came, a man named Jairus.  When he saw Jesus, he fell down at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death.  Please come and lay Your hands upon her, so she will be cured and live.”  So He went with him.

And a huge throng of people walked along with Him, pressing against Him.  And a woman was there who had been bleeding steadily for twelve years. And she had endured many treatments by many doctors, and had spent all she had.  Yet she had not been helped, but had actually been made worse.

Having heard about Jesus, she now came up behind Him in the crowd, for she kept telling herself, If only I can touch His clothes, I’ll be healed.  She touched His clothing, and the bleeding stopped instantly, and she could feel in her body that she was healed of the sickness.

Jesus knew immediately within Himself that power had been sent out from Him.  Turning around in the crowd, He said, “Who touched My clothes?”

And His disciples said to Him, “You see the mob of people pushing against You, yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

But He looked around to see the one who had done this.  Then the woman, now afraid and trembling, knowing what had been done for her, came forward and fell down in front of Him.  And she told Him the whole truth.  Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.  Go in peace, and be completely healed from your affliction.”

While He was speaking, members of the synagogue leader’s household arrived, saying, “Your daughter has died.  Why bother the Teacher any more?”

But Jesus, overhearing these words, immediately spoke up, telling the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid.  Only believe.”  Then He allowed no one else to continue on with Him, except Peter and James, and James’ brother, John.

When they reached the synagogue leader’s house, He saw and heard the chaotic mourning and loud wailing.  And He said to them as He entered in, “Why do you carry on like this and weep?  The child hasn’t died.  She’s only sleeping.” 

But they ridiculed Him.  So after He put everyone out of the house, He took along the child’s father and mother, and His companions, and entered the room where the child was lying.

Then taking hold of her hand, He said to the child, “Talitha, koumi,” which, translated, means, “Little girl, to you I say, Wake up!”  And she got up immediately and began walking around, since she was twelve years old.

At that moment her parents went crazy for joy and amazement and awe.  But He firmly ordered them to tell no one about this.  Then He told them to give the girl something to eat.