Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 5:6
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him,
6. afar off ] St Mark alone tells us this. While, as a man, he is attracted towards the Holy One; as possessed by the Legion, he desires to withdraw from Him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 5:6
But when he saw Jesus afar off.
The sinners place
Jesus is afar off in the sinners apprehension, and the sinner is in very deed far off from God.
1. As to character. What a difference between the demoniac and Jesus.
2. As to knowledge. The demoniac knew Jesus, but knew little of His love.
3. As to hope. This man had no hope of recovery, or but a faint one, and that hope the demons tried to extinguish.
4. As to possession. The demoniac had no hold upon the Saviour; on the contrary, he cried, What have I to do with Thee? Immeasurable is the distance between God and a sinner; it is wide as the gulf between sin and holiness, death and life, hell and heaven. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The sinners wisest course
The demoniac was all in confusion, for he was under contending influences: his own spirit and the evil spirit strove together. He ran towards Jesus, and worshipped Him; and yet in the same breath he cried, What have I to do with Thee? Thus are sinners tossed about. But it is the sinners wisest course to run to Jesus; for-
1. He is the Son of the Most High God.
2. He is the great Enemy of our enemy, the devil.
3. He is abundantly able to drive out a legion of devils.
4. He can cause us to be clothed in our right mind.
5. He permits us, even now, to draw near and worship Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The law of attraction
A needle will move towards a magnet, when once a magnet has moved near to it. Our heart manifests a sweet willingness towards salvation and holiness when the great and glorious goodwill of the Lord operates upon it. It is ours to run to Jesus as it all the running were ours; but the secret truth is that the Lord runs towards us, and this is the very heart of the business. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. Worshipped him] Did him homage; compelled thereto by the power of God. How humiliating to Satan, thus to be obliged to acknowledge the superiority of Christ!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
6. But when he saw Jesus afar off,he ran and worshipped himnot with the spontaneous alacritywhich says to Jesus, “Draw me, we will run after thee,”but inwardly compelled, with terrific rapidity, before the Judge, toreceive sentence of expulsion.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But when he saw Jesus afar off,…. For it seems the tombs among which this man dwelt, were at some distance from the sea shore: wherefore when it is said, Mr 5:2, that this man met Jesus, as soon as he came out of the ship: the meaning that he then came forth to meet him, as he might do upon sight of persons landing afar off; though he might not know then, who Jesus was: but coming nearer, and perceiving who he was, such was the power of Christ over the devils in him, that though sore against their wills, they obliged him to move on speedily towards him; so that
he ran and worshipped him: he made all imaginable haste to him; and when he came up to him, fell down at his feet before him, acknowledging his superiority and power, whom no chains nor fetters could bind, nor any man tame; nor durst any man pass that way, for fear of him: and yet, upon sight of Christ, without a word spoken to him, he runs and prostrates himself before him. This is an instance of the superiority of Christ over the devils, who knowing who he is, are filled with horror at him, fall down before him, and in their way do homage to him; though it is impossible they should be spiritual worshippers of him: unless this is rather to be understood of the man himself, who, at the sight of Christ, might have his senses for the present restored, and a knowledge of Christ given: to whom he ran speedily, and threw himself at his feet, hoping for relief from him: however, it may be an emblem of a poor awakened sinner, having a distant sight of Christ, who, upon it, makes haste unto him, and prostrates itself before him, believing he is able, if willing, to save him from the power of Satan, the evil of sin, and from eternal ruin and damnation.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ran and worshipped ( ). “At first perhaps with hostile intentions. The onrush of the naked yelling maniac must have tried the newly recovered confidence of the Twelve. We can imagine their surprise when, on approaching, he threw himself on his knees” (Swete).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Afar off [ ] . Peculiar to Mark, as is also he ran.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But when he saw Jesus afar off,” (kai idon ton lesoun apo makrothen) “And beholding Jesus from a distance away,” from afar, Php_2:10. Many mentally deranged people have moments of reason and sanity and recognition of peoples and places, as this one did upon seeing Jesus, and as in; If demons know who Jesus is, should not those who are sinners, afar off from God, also recognize Him? Eph 2:12-13; Eph 4:18.
2) “He ran and worshipped Him,” (edramen kai prosekunesen auton) “He ran (came running) like a dromedary, in an uncoordinated muscular imbalance manner, and worshipped (fell down before) Him,” as all men and demons shall one day do, Rom 14:11-12; Did not the prodigal recognize his father and his father’s home, and fall down and confess his sins before him, and find forgiveness and restoration, and an inheritance back in his father’s house? That redemption and restoration awaits every sin bound, deranged, unbeliever who will recognize who Jesus is and receive Him he can be liberated, Joh 8:32; Joh 8:36; Joh 6:37.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 5:6
Worshipped him (549) The arrangement of the narrative may be thus stated. When the demoniacs came to meet him, Christ ordered the unclean spirits to go out of them, and then they prayed and entreated that he would not torment them before the time The worship, therefore, did not precede Christ’s words: nor did they complain that Christ gave them uneasiness, (550) till he urged them to go out. We ought to be aware that they did not come of their own accord into the presence of Christ, but were drawn by a secret exercise of his authority. As they had formerly been accustomed to carry men off, in furious violence, to the tombs, so now a superior power compels them to appear reluctantly at the tribunal of their judge.
Hence we infer, that the whole of Satan’s kingdom is subject to the authority of Christ. (551) For the devils, when Christ summons them to appear before him, are not more at their own disposal than were the wretched men whom their tyranny was wont to drive about in every direction. At length, by the secret power of Christ, they are dragged before him, that, by casting them out, he may prove himself to be the deliverer of men. Reluctantly too they worship him, and their rebellious complaints testify that their confession was not made from choice, but was drawn from them by force.
(549) “ S’enclina devant luy;” — “kneeled down before him.”
(550) “ Et ils ne se sont point plainds que Christ les tormentast, sinon quand il les pressoit de sortir;” — “and they did not complain that Christ tormented them, till he urged them to go out.”
(551) “ Que tout le regne de Satan est tenu en bride sous la domination de Christ;” — “that all the kingdom of Satan is kept in check under the government of Christ.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) He ran and worshipped him.The precise attitude would be that of one who not only knelt but touched the ground with his forehead in token of his suppliant reverence.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Saw Jesus ran A traveller not far from this region describes a similar scene near Lebanon: “The silence of 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 moment he perceived me he left his canine comrades, and, bounding along with rapid strides, seized my horse’s bridle, and almost forced him backward over the cliff.” Warburton’s ‘Crescent and the Cross.’
Worshipped him
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he saw Jesus from afar he ran and fell on his knees before Him.’
This amplifies ‘met Him’ in Mar 5:2 (after the diversion in Mar 5:3-5). Compare on this Mar 3:11. It may be that his original intention was to attack the party, but that when they did not turn and flee as other men did, he suddenly recognised with Whom he was dealing. Alternately we may gain the impression that the man was drawn by an irresistible impulse, possibly because the man himself was reacting against the evil spirits within him. Another alternative is that we may see in this that the evil spirits within him recognised the Master of the Universe and in desperation sought to stave Him off, because they feared what He would do. It is clear that they were in panic.
But whichever way it was, even this distressed, powerful and unrestrainable man had to fall before Jesus, because something within him recognised with Whom He was dealing. We can imagine the feelings of the disciples as they saw this terrible figure running towards Him. Peter clearly remembered it well. But Jesus, unmoved, awaited his submission. What the Doctors of the Law would not do these evil spirits felt compelled to do. Fall down before Jesus. For they were wiser and more discerning than the Doctors of the Law.
Matthew lets us know that the man had a companion, also spirit possessed, and that together they were so fierce that no one dared to pass by when they were there. Even such people seek companionship, so that there is nothing unlikely in this. They may well have been a couple. But Mark is selective. He wanted to focus on this man because of what followed, for this man’s condition accentuates the supreme power and authority of Jesus. So he concentrates on the one man.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Acknowledging Jesus as the superior:
v. 6. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped Him,
v. 7. and cried with a loud voice and said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the most high God? I adjure Thee by God that Thou torment me not.
v. 8. For He said unto Him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
v. 9. And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many.
v. 10. And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country. Other people had been in danger of their lives on account of the fierceness of the man. Demoniac strength and utter misery were combined in the poor sufferer. But here the man saw Jesus, and Him the evil spirits knew, had known Him from the time that they were, together with their leader, Satan, thrown out of heaven, Jud 1:6. They must needs recognize Him, no matter where they met Him, as their sovereign Lord and King. And so the man came running and did the Lord homage, casting himself down at His feet in a worshipful attitude, acknowledging even by his action that he knew Jesus to be the Lord. And at the same time, with a cry of fear and prayer, he begs Christ: What business have we two, Thou and I, together, Jesus, Thou Son of God most high? The confession was apparently wrung from him under the pressure of abject terror, together with the plea that Jesus should not torment him, not condemn him at this time to the torment of hell, which was his eventual lot, just as he was even then suffering damnation in being banished from heaven. The evil spirits thus were obliged to recognize in Christ their future Judge, wanted to be rid of His presence, and yet must plead for the slightest favor and extension of time. For though the place of torment is even now their home, yet, by God’s permission, in the interval before the last Judgment, they have power to torture and destroy God’s creatures on earth. They, more than anyone else, dread the last Judgment. For then the place of torment will become a dungeon from which there is no escape and no hope of the slightest reprieve. Then they will see and feel nothing but the fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. Then the torture of damnation will never have an end, 2Pe 2:4. This cry of terror was occasioned by the fact that Christ was just about to say (conative imperfect); it was evident from Christ’s manner and look that it was on His tongue to speak the word which would release the poor sufferer from the clutches of his tormentors. Christ now permits an intermission in the proceedings lest the evil spirits vent their spite on the man. He asked the demoniac: What name is thine? And the answer, with the explanation, was: Legion, on account of their great number. Not only one unclean spirit was here devastating the temple of the poor man’s body, but a host of them. For the Roman legion comprised a number of between five and six thousand men, and the members of such a body were united under iron discipline. The name was thus the “emblem of irresistible power and of a multitude organized into unity. ” The devil is not so listless in his method of attack as the Christians are in warding it off. Not only does he walk about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour, but he has his armies, the spirits of darkness, trained in obedience and concerted attack. The spirits now begged Jesus not to send them out of this region which they seem to have favored on account of the nature of the population. It is a strange thing to find the devil pleading with the Lord for a favor; but if it suits his plans, he can be most abject.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
(6) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, (7) And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (8) For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Before we prosecute this poor creature’s history, I must beg the Reader to stop, and remark with me, the sovereignty of CHRIST owned by the devils themselves. Reader! it is worthy your closest observation, in how many instances, during our LORD’s ministry upon earth, this was done. Mar 1:23-24 ; Luk 4:41 ; Mar 1:34 . One might have been led to hope, that such a testimony, evidently constrained as it was by Almighty power, would have stopped the presumptuous reasoning of those, who call themselves Christians, but by a strange misnomer; and yet own not the GODHEAD of our Al mighty LORD. But the cause is explained. See Isa 6:9-10 . And the awful consequence in another scripture, as blended with the sin. Act 13:41 .
But to return to the case of this man possessed with an evil spirit. As soon as he saw JESUS afar off, he ran and worshipped him. What was there in the appearance of the LORD Jesus, to have induced this effect? Our LORD, to every eye of common sense, appeared only as a poor Jew, consorting with the poorest of the people. And yet this man, whom no fetters could bind, nor reasoning tame, on the first sight of him, ran and worshipped him. And observe the loud cries, and earnest supplications of the devils, to be spared front torment, while as loudly confessing CHRIST’s GODHEAD and oneness with the FATHER. Reader! behold from hence with what horror devils tremble at the person of CHRIST, while bowing before him! And Reader! do observe further, how will any and every poor sinner, who hath long been led captive by Satan at his will, when he first sees CHRIST, or hears of CHRIST, and taught who CHRIST is, by the HOLY GHOST, in spite of sin, and Satan, flee to JESUS, and seek deliverance by him, from all his sorrows?
I pray the Reader not to overlook what the devil said, What have I to do with thee JESUS! thou SON of the most high GOD? Devils wish not to have to do with him; but JESUS in our nature hath much to do with them; for his province it is to destroy them. Indeed, the SON of GOD was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. 1Jn 3:8 . Well might they therefore dread his sovereign presence. But before this cry for forbearance, the word of the LORD had gone forth, for the destruction of Satan’s empire over this poor man. JESUS had said, come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Reader! do not overlook the LORD’s mercy, and the LORD’s power. Oh! that every poor sinner, whom GOD the FATHER hath given to his SON, and whose redemption CHRIST hath purchased with his blood, may be led by GOD the HOLY GHOST, as this poor captive was, to flee to JESUS, sure as he is, of a spiritual deliverance.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
Ver. 6. See Trapp on “ Mat 8:28 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6. ] . ., peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 5:6-13 . Meeting with Jesus . This desperate case will test Christ’s power to heal. Madness, as wild and untamable as the wind or the sea. What is going to happen?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mar 5:6 . , from afar, a relative expression, a favourite pleonasm in Mk. (Mar 14:54 , Mar 15:40 ). : worshipful attitude, as of one who feels already the charm or spell of Him before whom he kneels; already there is a presentiment and commencement of cure, though not yet welcome.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
saw. Greek. eidon. App-133. Not the some word as in verses: Mar 5:15, Mar 5:31, Mar 5:38.
Jesus. App-98.
afar off = from (Greek. apo. App-101.) afar.
ran. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads “came”.
worshipped = did homage [by prostration]. App-137.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] . ., peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 5:6. , ran) A specimen and foretaste of the Lordship of Christ. The man possessed ran in spite of the demons, as may readily be supposed.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he ran: Psa 66:3, *marg. Psa 72:9, Luk 4:41, Act 16:17, Jam 2:19
Reciprocal: Mat 8:2 – worshipped Mar 3:11 – unclean Luk 8:28 – he cried
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
However, it was the outward or human part of this creature that was performing the things described and that was because he was possessed of this devil and had to do as the evil spirit directed him. The devil himself was perfectly intelligent, for he caused the man to run and meet Jesus and perform some act of respect that is called worship. (See the note on that subject at Mat 2:2.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 5:6. And when he saw Jesus from afar. The prominent thought is that he ran from a distance. This running would look like a violent attack, but instead of this, he worshipped him; Luke: fell down before Him, which may be all that the word worshipped means. But the next verse intimates that it was an acknowledgment of Christs power, even if still hostile in its tone. If the man was merely insane, how could he have known of Jesus.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The way the man related to Jesus shows that the demons within him recognized Jesus as someone superior to them. The demons controlled the man’s physical movements and his words. They addressed Jesus as "Son of the Most High God" recognizing His deity (Gen 14:18-24; Num 24:16; Isa 14:14; Dan 3:26; Dan 4:2; cf. Mar 1:23-24). The fact that the man knelt before Jesus likewise shows that the demons regarded Jesus as their superior. The demons feared that Jesus would send them to their eternal judgment then, something only God could do (Rev 20:1-3; cf. Mat 8:29; Luk 8:31). The tormentor appealed for deliverance from torment. [Note: R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and D. Brown, A Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, 2:70.] Ironically he appealed to Jesus for mercy in God’s name. He probably did this because he knew that Jesus was subject to His Father.