Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 5:15
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.
15. clothed ] because, as St Luke informs us (Mar 8:27), before the wretched man wore no clothes. “On descending from the heights of Lebanon, I found myself,” writes Warburton, “in a cemetery The silence of the night was now broken by fierce yells and howlings, which I discovered proceeded from a naked maniac, who was fighting with some wild dogs for a bone.” The Crescent and the Cross, II. 352.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 5:15-16
Sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.
The joy of freedom from satanic tyranny
At the death of Queen Mary of England, several Protestants were in the prisons awaiting martyrdom. Who can tell their joy when it was announced that the tyrant was dead and they were free! But what is deliverance from a bodily persecutor in comparison with the deliverance of a soul from the bonds of Satan? Jesus Christ comes as a conqueror to destroy the works of the devil; at His word the bonds of Satans captives fall from them, and they are free. (Sunday School Times.)
The magnitude of a moral change
Whenever a man is changed, as this demoniac was, the greatest change that ever can happen in this world takes place-the transformation of a man from a life of vulgarity, of passion, of appetite, of selfishness, of pride, and his translation into a new life, in which purity, truth, and love are the controlling elements. As God looks upon it in its bearings and relations to the eternal existence, there is no change that ever takes place, no change created by skill, no change in aesthetic art, so great and beautiful as this. It is taking place. The wonders of creation are not in Niagara, nor in the Mammoth Cave, nor on the stormy ocean. The wonders of creation are silent. All the thunder of the storm has not in it the power of one blade of grass. All the winds that rock the oak, and make it groan, are not to be compared in power with the suction that is going on in the roots of that one single oak. The powers of nature are silent; and the transformation of men from lower and vulgar conditions of mind into higher and spiritual conditions are the marvels, as God looks upon them. They are the marvels of power in this world; and not all the creations of Phidias, of Praxiteles, of Canova, or of Ward in our modern day; not all that Titian could do, not all that Raphael could do, not all that the great masters on canvas could do, in any age since the world began, can compare with it. These are thin and superficial pictures; they are nothing but a suggestion of what it is when a man is translated from the power of sin and Satan into the kingdom of light and glory. The earth ought to shake, and every string in heaven ought to quiver, with the outblown joy. It does; for there is more joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine persons that need no repentance. (H. W. Beecher.)
Life contrasts
The august terror of the one experience, and the sweet beauty of the other, are almost that which we see in some days of summer. The clouds bring forth their thunder and their lightning, and the whole earth shakes and quivers at the awful power which the sweeping tempest exhibits. But it sweeps on; the clouds roll away; the thunder grows lower and lower, and more and more distant; the sun breaks through; every tree and shrub is apparelled in jewels; the birds begin to sing; and the bright blue overarches the whole heavens. As between the terror of the storm and the clearing up of the storm there is an analogy of beauty, certainly, with this terrible experience of the demoniac in the tombs, and his sitting at the feet of Christ sweet as a newborn child. (H. W. Beecher.)
Change wrought by conversion
A young man, an apprentice in an extensive tin factory in Massachusetts, who had been very profligate, but was converted by reading a religious tract, having applied for admission into a church, the minister called on his master to inquire whether any change had been wrought in his conduct, and whether he had any objection to his reception. When the minister had made the customary inquiries, his master, with evident emotion, though he was not a professor of religion, replied in substance as follows: Pointing to an iron chain hanging up in the room, Do you see that chain? said he. That chain was forged for W-. I was obliged to chain him to the bench by the week together, to keep him at work. He was the worst boy I had in the whole establishment. No punishment seemed to have any salutary influence upon him. I could not trust him out of my sight. But now, sir, he is completely changed-he has really become like a lamb. He is one of my best apprentices. I would trust him with untold gold. I have no objection to his being received into communion. I wish all my boys were prepared to go with him.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. That – had the legion] This is omitted by D, and two others, AEthiopic, Persic, Vulgate, and all the Itala but one. Mill, Bengel, and Griesbach, think it should be omitted.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
15. And they come to JesusMatthew(Mt 8:34) says, “Behold,the whole city came out to meet Jesus.”
and see him that waspossessed with the devilthe demonized person.
and had the legion,sitting“at the feet of Jesus,” adds Luke (Lu8:35); in contrast with his former wild and wanderinghabits.
and clothedAs ourEvangelist had not told us that he “ware no clothes,” themeaning of this statement could only have been conjectured but for”the beloved physician” (Lu8:27), who supplies the missing piece of information here. Thisis a striking case of what are called Undesigned Coincidencesamongst the different Evangelists; one of them taking a thing forgranted, as familiarly known at the time, but which we should neverhave known but for one or more of the others, and without theknowledge of which some of their statements would be unintelligible.The clothing which the poor man would feel the want of the moment hisconsciousness returned to him, was doubtless supplied to him by someof the Twelve.
and in his right mindbutnow, oh, in what a lofty sense! (Compare an analogous, though adifferent kind of case, Da4:34-37).
and they were afraidHadthis been awe only, it had been natural enough; but other feelings,alas! of a darker kind, soon showed themselves.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they come to Jesus,…. Who had wrought this miracle, and of which, and whom, the keepers of the swine had given them some account:
and see him that was possessed of the devil, and had a legion. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions leave out the last clause, “and had a legion”, and so Beza’s ancient copy; the Persic version renders it, “the legion being gone out of him”: they saw, along with Jesus, the man who had been possessed with a legion of devils, whom they knew very well to be the same man;
sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid; not of the man, as they were before, when he was possessed, not daring to come that way because of him; but of Christ, and his amazing power; who was able to dispossess a legion of devils, and restore a man to his perfect senses, to such composure and decency, who was before in such a dreadful condition, and so exceeding furious and outrageous: they saw the man was still and quiet, harmless and inoffensive; they had nothing to fear from him; but they knew not what to make of Christ: they might take him for an exorcist, or a magician, and fear that he would exercise his art to the ruin and destruction of them: they did not fear and reverence him as a divine person, but they dreaded him, as one possessed of a power of doing hurt: they were conscious to themselves of their sins, and that they deserved the just judgments of God upon them; and they were afraid that Christ was sent to execute them upon them: and it is observable, that they say not one word to him, by way of complaint, for the loss of their swine; but thought themselves well off, could they but get rid of him. There was a strange change and alteration in the man; he, who before was running about among the tombs, and upon the mountains, and scarce ever sat still, but was always in motion, as persons distracted commonly are, was now sitting at the feet of Jesus, his kind benefactor, Lu 8:35, and he who before was naked, and whenever any clothes were put upon him, tore them off again, and to pieces, as madmen usually do, was now “clothed”; perhaps with some the swine herds had left behind them, in their fright, or the disciples had with them: and he who before was quite out of his senses, knew not what he said, or did, was now “in his right mind”; of a sound mind, of a good understanding, sober, modest, and knowing. This man, as whilst under the possession of Satan, was an emblem of a man in a natural estate; so, being now dispossessed, he very aptly represented a converted man; who, being brought out of a state of nature, out of an horrible pit, a pit wherein is no water, is “sitting” at the feet of Jesus; where he places himself, imploring his grace and mercy, entreating him to receive and save him, resolving, if he perishes, he will perish there; and where he is, as a scholar, at the feet of his master, hearing his words, and receiving instruction from him; and which also is expressive of his submission to his Gospel and ordinances, and of pleasure and continuance under them; as well as of that calmness and serenity of mind, which attends a sense of justification, pardon, reconciliation, and adoption, and hope of glory: and whereas, before he was naked, and without a righteousness, or, which was no better than filthy rags; he is now “clothed” with the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, with fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints, with change of raiment, and clothing of wrought gold; the righteousness of Christ being not only imputed to him by the Father, but revealed in the Gospel, brought near by the Spirit, and put upon him, and received by faith; as well as having put on the new man, and being clothed with humility, and other graces of the Spirit, and with the garments of a holy conversation; and so will at last be clothed with the shining robes of immortality and glory. Such an one, who before was not himself, is now “in his right mind”; is come to himself like the prodigal; is become sensible of the evil of sin, and is brought to true repentance for it; and of his lost state and condition, of his need of Christ, and salvation by him; has his spiritual senses exercised upon Christ; beholds the loveliness and suitableness of him as a Saviour, hears his voice, handles him, the word of life, tastes the sweetness there is in him, and in his Gospel, and savours the things of his Spirit; and whose senses also are exercised to discern between good and evil, and truth and error; who likewise has a new heart, and a right Spirit created in him; and has the same mind in him, as was in Jesus Christ, for humility and lowliness; and whose mind is stayed upon him, and trusts in him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They come to Jesus ( ). Vivid present. To Jesus as the cause of it all, “to meet Jesus” ( , Mt 8:34).
And behold (). Present tense again.
And they were afraid ( ). They became afraid. Mark drops back to the ingressive aorist tense (passive voice). They had all been afraid of the man, but there he was “sitting clothed and in his right mind,” ( . Note the participles). “At the feet of Jesus,” Luke adds (Lu 8:35). For a long time he had worn no clothes (Lu 8:17). Here was the healing of the wild man and the destruction of the hogs all by this same Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
See (qewrousin). Rev., rightly, behold. For it was more than simple seeing. The verb means looking steadfastly, as one who has an interest in the object, and with a view to search into and understand it : to look inquiringly and intently.
Clothed. Compare Luk 8:27. For a long time he had worn no clothes.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And they come to Jesus,” (kai erchontai pros ton lesoun) “And they come directly to Jesus;- The report of what had happened led them directly to Jesus, Lord or Master of the universe, and even demons, Joh 5:22.
2) “And see him that was possessed with the devil,” (kai theorousin ton dsimonenon) “And they observed the demon-possessed man,” as the first object of their attention.
3) “And had the legion,” (ton eschekota ton legiona) ”The one having once had the legion of deranged spirits,” an innumerable number of demon consorts, who in dwelt his body and incited him to self-destruction, and to be a trouble and expense to society.
4) “Sitting, clothed, and in his right mind:” (kathemenon himatismenon kai sopronounta) “Sitting calmly, as a pupil at the feet of his Master, having been clothed, and being in his senses,” 1Co 6:11; Col 1:13. Having emotional stability, or normal self-control. No longer did he grovel and rage and rattle chains and babble and scream bloody cries in a naked and lacerated body with open wounds and sores.
5) “And they were afraid.” (kai ephobethesan) “And they were afraid,” they who saw it were shocked, astounded at the power that had brought about the change in the man, Job 13:11; Psa 14:5; 2Ti 1:7.
Sitting, (not pacing, unstable), clothed (not naked, indecently exposed), and in a right mind, (attitude, disposition, or interest) should be three new marks of every person redeemed, delivered from the domain of demon spirits and unbelief, 2Co 5:21; Rom 12:1-2.
GUILTY CONSCIENCE
Some few years ago in the state of Washington a horrible murder was committed. A hitch-hiker murdered a young man who had given him a ride. The body was found, but no trace of the murderer. Several years went by; and one evening in the state of Missouri a man was coming home from work, carrying his lunch box in his hand. At the door of his home a young wife awaited him. They had been married about two years, and a little boy had been given to them. But before reaching the door, a man stepped out of the shadows, placed his hand on his shoulder, and arrested him for the murder in Washington. He immediately dropped his lunch box, saying, “I’m glad it’s all over! I’ve lived in hell for three years.” He then told how he had killed the young fellow and had carried the corpse by his side in the car for many miles, looking for a convenient place to hide it. But he said, “Every time I looked at that body, I saw those dead eyes staring at me. And for three years, night and day, they have been staring at me.” If a sinner could go to heaven with a burdened conscience like that, even heaven would be hell to him. But, thank God, no one will ever be in heaven with a guilty conscience. God not only forgives the repentant sinner, but He cleanses “from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).
– The Gospel Herald
DANGEROUS FAMILIARITY
A colored man had applied for a job as a teamster. “Are you familiar with mules?” asked the employer. “No, sah?” replied the applicant, “for Ah knows mules too well to get familiar wid ’em.” There is great danger of our getting used to sinful practices because of their commonness. Let us insist on keeping a conscience which will not grow dull to have convictions and follow them.
-Alliance Full Gospel Quarterly
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 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 they did right but now that they send him out of their territories, what could have been done worse than this? They too were scattered, and here is a shepherd to collect them or rather, it is God who stretches out his arms, through his Son, to embrace and carry to heaven those who were overwhelmed by the darkness of death. They choose rather to be deprived of the salvation which is offered to them, than to endure any longer the presence of Christ.
The apparent ground of their offense is the loss of the swine, but Luke assigns a loftier cause, that they were seized with a great fear; (556) and certainly, if they had been exasperated by the loss which they sustained, they would not have requested him, but would rudely have driven him out. They honor him as God’s minister, and yet are so struck with dread as to desire that he will go to a distance from them. Thus we see that they were not at all moved by a sense of the divine grace. And indeed, though all wicked men adore God, and bestow great pains on appeasing him, yet if they had their choice, they would withdraw to the greatest possible distance from him: for his face is terrible, so long as they contemplate him as a Judge, and not as a Father. The consequence is, that the gospel, which is more delightful than any thing that can be conceived, is everywhere considered to be so dismal and severe, that a good part of the world would wish that it were buried.
And yet it is true that their fear was partly occasioned by their loss. Thus at the present day, so long as men believe that the kingdom of God is opposed to their interest, either of a public or private nature, they are prepossessed by a depraved and carnal fear, and have no relish for his grace. Accordingly, when he comes, they think that God does not regard them with favor, but rather with anger, and, so far as lies in their power, they send him to another place. It is a mark of shameful insensibility in those men, that the loss of their swine gives them more alarm than the salvation of their soul would give them joy.
(556) “ ᾿Εφοβήθησαν, they were afraid, (Mar 5:15,) is by most Commentators understood of fear lest they might suffer a yet greater calamity; but it rather denotes awe at the stupendous miracle. ” — Bloomfield
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) And had the legion.This special form of the antithesis between the mans past and present state is given by St. Mark only.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. In his right mind A grateful monument of mercy! The frenzy has subsided, the victim is redeemed, his body is clothed, his troubled soul is once more tranquil. And there is his benefactor soon to be banished the country!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mar 5:15. Was possessed Had been possessed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(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 they that saw 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.
I stay not so much to remark the terrible consternation, which this demonstration of CHRIST’s power must have induced on all beholders. Such; but in an infinitely greater degree, will be the display of the LORD’s sovereignty, at the last day. But I would rather call the attention of the Reader to the poor man, now no longer under demoniac influence, but sitting at the feet of JESUS, clothed, and in his, right mind. A beautiful representation of all the redeemed of the, LORD! For Reader! what is every truly converted child of GOD upon earth; yea, we may go further, and say what is every redeemed soul now in heaven, but once such as this man was, when under the dominion of sin and Satan? And now washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our GOD. 1Co 6:11 . They of our brethren, now in heaven, gone before to glory and they who are redeemed from among men still upon earth, in grace, are alike sitting at the feet of JESUS, clothed with the robe of his righteousness, and wearing the garment of his salvation. Oh! the unspeakable felicity of such a recovered state!
But let not the Reader overlook the awful conduct of the Gadarenes; in desiring JESUS to depart out of their coast. Is it possible, that any individual, when he saw the wonderful mercy shown to this poor creature, could have wished the Great Author of such mercy to leave them? And yet Matthew in his relation of, this miracle saith, that the whole city joined in the request, that JESUS would go out of their coasts. Mat 8:34 . As long as this poor creature was under the possession of this evil spirit, he was a terror to the whole country; But yet it seems, they preferred the devil’s raging among them, to that of the LORD JESUS manifesting his grace and mercy. But Reader! while you and I pity the poor deluded Gadarenes, let us look around among our own countrymen, and we shall discover equally distressing sights for pity. What daily manifestations are made of our fellow-creatures, living under the same awful influence, on whom the voice of JESUS’s Gospel hath no control? Multitudes like these Gadarenes do in effect, if not in words, say, to JESUS, Depart from us: for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Yea, Reader! to come a little nearer home. Have not you and I, in, times past, said the same? Yea, is it not so now? Are we both sitting daily at the feet of JESUS, cloathed and in our right mind? Is it the language of your heart and mine, to JESUS? Do not LORD go away, neither suffer us to depart from thee, for thou hast the words of eternal life! These are solemn enquiries. Reader! do not dismiss them un answered!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 15. See Trapp on “ Mat 8:33 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
15, 16. ] Omitted by Matt., as also Mar 5:18-20 . The whole of this is full of minute and interesting detail.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
to. Greek pros. App-104.
see = gaze upon. Greek. thearea. App-133.:11.
possessed with the devil. Greek. daimonizomi
clothed = provided with clothes. Compare Luk 8:27, where he had for a long time worn none. Greek. himatizomai. Occurs only here and Luk 8:35 in the N.T.; but is found in the Papyri, where an apprentice is to be provided with clothes.
afraid = alarmed.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
15, 16.] Omitted by Matt., as also Mar 5:18-20. The whole of this is full of minute and interesting detail.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 5:15. , , , sitting, clothed, in his sound mind) whereas previously he had been without rest, clothes, and the use of his reason. Those who had witnessed the miracle may have given him the clothes. He put forth and showed his possession of reason in his actions.- , the legion) This name seems to have been known in that locality, and to have kept the inhabitants in a state of fright. For there is not any other apparent cause why this appellation, which describes the fact as they found it, should be repeated.[42]
[42] The larger Ed. is not so much in favour of this repetition as Ed. 2, the Gnomon, and Vers. Germ. ABL read . . (BL, ). But Dbc Vulg. Memph. Versions omit the words.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
him that: Mar 5:4, Isa 49:24, Isa 49:25, Mat 9:33, Mat 12:29, Luk 8:35, Luk 8:36, Luk 10:39, Col 1:13
and they: 1Sa 6:20, 1Sa 6:21, 1Sa 16:4, 1Ch 13:12, 1Ch 15:13, Job 13:11, Psa 14:5, 2Ti 1:7
Reciprocal: 1Ki 17:18 – art thou come Act 9:21 – Is not Act 19:16 – General Tit 2:2 – temperate
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
The mentioning of seeing Jesus and the man at the same time indicates the people connected Jesus with the whole event. They were afraid. This man had defied all attempts to subdue him even with a chain, now he was seen sitting quietly and in his right mind. The situation was so, overwhelming that it filled the people with terror and confusion.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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.
[In his right mind.] Firm; or sound of understanding; in Talmudic speech.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mar 5:15. The order of the Greek, which is reproduced in the footnote, is vivid.
Sitting, not wandering as before;clothed, not naked now;
and in his right mind, sane, not a maniac, as he had been under the demoniacal influence.
Even him that had the legion. The reality of the possession is emphasized by the fact that they identified this man as the former terror to the district
They were afraid, terrified, awe-struck.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
CHAPTER 4:39, 5:15, 5:31, 5:41 (Mar 4:39; Mar 5:15; Mar 5:31; Mar 5:41)
FOUR MIRACLES
“And there was a great calm.” Mar 4:39 (R.V.)
“Behold, him that was possessed with devils, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion.” Mar 5:15 (R.V.)
“Who touched Me?” Mar 5:31 (R.V.)
“Talitha cumi.” Mar 5:41 (R.V.)
THERE are two ways, equally useful, of studying Scripture, as there are of regarding the other book of God, the face of Nature. We may bend over a wild flower, or gaze across a landscape; and it will happen that a naturalist, pursuing a moth, loses sight of a mountain range. It is a well-known proverb, that one may fail to see the wood for the trees, losing in details the general effect. And so the careful student of isolated texts may never perceive the force and cohesion of a connected passage.
The reader of a Gospel narrative thinks, that by pondering it as a whole, he secures himself against any such misfortune. But a narrative dislocated, often loses as much as a detached verse. The actions of our Lord are often exquisitely grouped, as becometh Him Who hath made everything not beautiful only, but especially beautiful in its season. And we should not be content without combining the two ways of reading Scripture, the detailed and the rapid, — lingering at times to apprehend the marvelous force of a solitary verse, and again sweeping over a broad expanse, like a surveyor, who, to map a country, stretches his triangle from mountain peak to peak.
We have reached a point at which St. Mark records a special outshining of miraculous power. Four striking works follow each other without a break, and it must not for a moment be supposed that the narrative is thus constructed, certain intermediate discourses and events being sacrificed for the purpose, without a deliberate and a truthful intention. That intention is to represent the effect, intense and exalting, produced by such a cycle of wonders on the minds of His disciples. They saw them come close upon each other: we should lose the impression as we read, if other incidents were allowed to interpose themselves. It is one more example of St. Mark’s desire to throw light, above all things, upon the energy and power of the sacred life.
We have to observe therefore the bearing of these four miracles on each other, and upon what precedes, before studying them one by one.
It was a time of trial. The Pharisees had decided that He had a devil. His relatives had said He was beside Himself. His manner of teaching had changed, because the people should see without perceiving, and hear without understanding. They who understood His parables heard much of seed that failed, of success a great way off, of a kingdom which would indeed be great at last, but for the present weak and small. And it is certain that there must have been heavy hearts among those who left, with Him, the populous side of the lake, to cross over into remote and semi-pagan retirement. To encourage them, and as if in protest against His rejection by the authorities, Jesus enters upon this great cycle of miracles.
They find themselves, as the Church has often since been placed, and as every human soul has had to feel itself, far from shore, and tempest-beaten. The rage of human foes is not so deaf, so implacable, as that of wind and wave. It is the stress of adverse circumstances in the direst form. But Jesus proves Himself to be Master of the forces of nature which would overwhelm them.
Nay, they learn that His seeming indifference is no proof that they are neglected, by the rebuke He speaks to their over-importunate appeals, Why are ye so fearful? have ye not yet faith? And they, who might have been shaken by the infidelity of other men, fear exceedingly as they behold the obedience of the wind and the sea, and ask, Who then is this?
But in their mission as His disciples, a worse danger than the enmity of man or convulsions of nature awaits them. On landing, they are at once confronted by one whom an evil spirit has made exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way. It is their way nevertheless, and they must tread it. And the demoniac adores, and the evil spirits themselves are abject in supplication, and at the word of Jesus are expelled. Even the inhabitants, who will not receive Him, are awe-struck and deprecatory, and if at their bidding Jesus turns away again, His followers may judge whether the habitual meekness of such a one is due to feebleness or to a noble self-command.
Landing once more, they are soon accosted by a ruler of the synagogue, whom sorrow has purified from the prejudices of his class. And Jesus is about to heal the daughter of Jairus, when another form of need is brought to light. A slow and secret decline, wasting the vital powers, a silent woe, speechless, stealthily approaching the Healer–over this grief also He is Lord. And it is seen that neither the visible actions of Jesus nor the audible praises of His petitioners can measure the power that goes out of Him, the physical benefits which encompass the Teacher as a halo envelopes flame.
Circumstances, and the fiends of the pit, and the woes that waste the lives of men, over these He has been seen to triumph. But behind all that we strive with here, there lurks the last enemy, and he also shall be subdued. And now first an example is recorded of what we know to have already taken place, the conquest of death by his predicted Spoiler. Youth and gentle maidenhood, high hope and prosperous circumstances have been wasted, but the call of Jesus is heard by the ear that was stopped with dust, and the spirit obeys Him in the far off realm of the departed, and they who have just seen such other marvels, are nevertheless amazed with a great amazement.
No cycle of miracles could be more rounded, symmetrical and exhaustive; none could better vindicate to His disciples his impugned authority, or brace their endangered faith, or fit them for what almost immediately followed, their own commission, and the first journey upon which they too cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.