Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
JabiLs' DaugltUr Restored to Life. MARK V. Woman willi an Issue oj Blood Healed.
14. And tliey <hnt fed the gwliie lied, and told It—" told of the tempest. The tide of our Lord's popularity was now fast rising, and he Avas nigh unto the sea. ii. And, beliold, tliere cometK one of the rulers of the synagogue—of which class there were but fe\v who believed in Jesus (John 7. 48;. One would suppose from this that the ruler had been with the multitude on the shore, anxiously awaiting the return of Jesus, and immediately on His arrival had accosted Him as here related. But Matthew (9. 18) tells us that the ruler came to Him while He was in the act of speaking at his own table on the subject of fasting; and as we must suppose that this converted publican ought to know what took place on that meinoraljle occasion when he made a feast to his Lord, we conclude that here the right order is indicated by the First Evangelist alone. Jaliiis by name—or 'Jaeirus.'
evei y tiling, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils" (Matthew 8. 33)—In tlie city, and In the country. And tJiey went out to see what It was that was done —Thus had they the evideuce both of the herdsmen and of their own senses, to tlie reality of both miracles. 15. And tliey come to Jesus—Matthew (8. 34) says, " Behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus"—and see hlin that was possessed with the devil— ' the demon i zed person'—ami had the legion, sitting—" at the feet of Jesus," adds Luke (8.35); in contrast with his former ^vild and uaudering habits—and clothed—As our Evangelist had not told us that lie " ware no clothes," the meaning of this statement could only have been conjectured but for " the beloved physician" (Luke 8. 27), who supplies the missing piece of information here. This is a striking case of what are called Undesiyned Cbmcideftces amongst the diflerent Evangelists; one of them taking a thing for grunted, as familiarly known at the time, but which we should never have known but for one or more of the others, and without tlie knowledge of which some of their statements would be unintelligible. The clothing which the poor man would feel the want of the moment his consciousness returned to him, was doubtless supplied to him by some of the Twelve—and In his right mind—but now, oh in what a lofty sense ! (Cf. an analogous, though a different kind of case, Daniel 4.3-1-37.) and they were afraid—Had this been awe only, it had been natural enough; but other feelings, alas ! of a darker kind, soon showed themselves. 16. And they that saw it told them how It befell to him that was possessed with the devil (' the demouized person') and also concem Eng the swine—Thus had they the double testimony of the herdsmen and their own senses. 17. And they hegan to pray him to depart out of their coasts—Was it the owners only of the valuable property now lost to them that did this? Alas, no ! For Luke (8. 37) says, " Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them ; for they were taken with great fear." The evil spirits had thus, alas ! their
It is the same name as Jair, in the Old Testament (Numbers 32. 41 ; Judges lU. 3 ; Esther 2. 5). and when he saw him, he fell at his feet—in Matthew (9. IS), " worshipped Hini." The meaning is tlie same in both. 23. And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter—Luke
(8.42) says, "He had one only daughter, about twelve years of age." According to a well-known rabbin, quoted by LiGHTFOOT, a daughter, till she had completed her twelfth year, was, called 'little,' or 'a little maid;' after that, 'a young woman'—lieth at the point of death Matthew gives it thus: "My daughter is even now dead" —'has just expired.' The news of her death reached the father after the cure of the woman with the issue of blood: but Matthew's brief account gives only the result, as in the case of the centurion's servant (Matthew 8.
5, &c.). come and lay thy hands on Iier, that she may be healed; and she shall live-or, 'that slie may bo healed and live,' according to a fully preferable reading. In one of the class to which this man belonged, so steeped in prejudice, such faith would imply more than in others.
J'/ie ivoman ivith an Issue of Blood Healed (v. 23-34). 24-. And Jesus went with him ; and much people followed him, and thronged him—The word in Luke is stronger—'choked,' 'stifled Hiin.' 2K. And had sul Tered many things of many pitysicians—The expression perhaps does not necessarily refer to the sullering slie endured under medical treatment, but to the much vai ied treatment which she underwent-and had spent all that she had, and was notliing bettered, but ratlier grew worse—Pitiable case, and affectingly aggravated; emblem of our natural state as fallen creatures (Ezekiel oljject. Irritated, the people could not suffer His presence; yet awe-struck, they dared not order Him olT: so they entreat Him to withdraw, and—He takes them at their word. 18. he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he miglit be with him-the grateful heart, fresh from the hand of demons, clinging to its wondrous Benefactor. How exquisitely natural! 19. Howbelt, Jesus suffered him not, &c. To be a missionary for Christ, in the region where he was so well known and so long dreaded, was a far nobler calling than to follow Him where nobody had ever heard of liim,and where other trophies not less illustrious could be raised by the same power and grace. 30. And he departed, and began to publish—not only among his friends, to whom Jesus immediately sent him, but—In Decapolls—so called, as being a region of ten cities. (See on Matthew 4. 2.3)—how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel—Throughout that considerable region did this monument of mercy proclaim his new-found Lord; and some, it Is to be hoped, did more than "marvel."
16. 5, 6), and illustrating the worse than vanity of all human remedies for spiritual maladies (Hosea 5. 13). The higher design of all our Lord's miracles of healing irresistibly suggests this way of viewing the present case, the propriety of which will still more appear as we proceed. 37. When she had heard of Jesus, came—This was the right experiment at last. What had she "heard of Jesus?" No doubt it was His marvellous cui'es she had heard of; and the hearing of these, in connection with her bitter experience of the vanity of applj'ing to any other, had been blessed to the kindling in her soul of a firm confidence that He who had so willingly wrought such cures on othei's was able and would not refuse to heal her also. In the press behind—shrinking, yet seeking—and touched his garment—According to the ceremonial law, the touch of any one having the disease which this woman had would have defiled the person touched. Some think that the recollection of this may account for her stealthily approaching Him in the crowd behind, and touching but the hem of His garment. But there was an instinct in the faith which brought her to
21-43. The Daughter of Jairus Raised to Life—The Woman with ak Issue of Blood Healed. (=Matthew
9. 18-26 ; Luke 8. il-58.) The occasion of this scene will appear presently.
Jairiui' Daughter {v. 21-21). 31. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side—from the Gadarene side of the lake, where He had parted with the healed demoniac, to the west side, at Capernaum much people gathered unto him-who "gladly received Him; for they were all waiting for Him" (Luke 8. 40). The abundant teaching of that day (cli. 4. I, <fec., and Matthew 13.) had only whetted the people's appetite: and disappointed, as would seem, that He had left them in the evening to cross the lake, they remain hanging about the beach, having got a hint, probably through some of His disciples, that He would be back the same evening. Perbap<i they wltqessed at a distance the sudden calming
Je.sus, which taught her, that if that touch could set her free from the defiling disease itself, it was impossible to communicate defilement to Him, and that this wondrous Healer must be above such laws. 38. For she said— "within herself" (Matthew 9. 21)—If I may toiu:h but his clothes, I shall be whole i. e., if I may but come in contact with this glorious Healer at all. Keinarkable faith this ! 39. And straightway the fouittain of her blood was dried up—Not only was her issue of blood stanched (Luke 8. 44), but the cause of It was thoroughly removed,