Mark 5:21-25 - My little daughter is dying

5:21-24

In response to the request of the people, Jesus had left and crossed to the other side. As usual, a large crowd gathered. One of the synagogue leaders, called Jairus, came to Jesus and fell at his feet. His little daughter was seriously ill and was dying. He asked Jesus to come and lay hand on his daughter, believing that she would then be healed and would live. So Jesus went with Jairus, and, of course, was followed by a large crowd. It is possible that this was taking place in Capernaum.

5:25

The healing of Jairus’ daughter will take place later, but this is interspersed with the healing of a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. As well as the physical suffering, this would also make her “unclean” and so would severely restrict her involvement in society. Moreover, if she touched people they too may become unclean. 

2 Samuel 17:1-6 - This plan seemed good to Absalom

17:1-4

Ahithophel’s advice continued, now moving on from the humiliation of David to the actual vanquishing of David. Ahithophel said that he would choose twelve thousand men and set out almost immediately in pursuit of David. There would be an early attack, based on the assumption that David and his men would be weak and weary, and highly susceptible to a quick attack. Also twelve thousand men was substantially more than David had with him. He would kill David and bring the rest of the men back to Jerusalem. With David dead they would now be with Absalom. Absalom’s initial reaction was to approve the plan, as did the elders of Israel. A key feature of the plan was that Absalom was not directly involved.

17:5,6

Absalom, however, wanted to consult Hushai as well to get a second opinion. This was a sensible approach to take, but in this case would be Absalom’s downfall. Hushai arrived, and Absalom told him the details of Ahithophel’s advice.

Mark 5:16-20 - All the people were amazed

5:16,17

Word of what had happened, both to the man and to the pigs, spread and the people began to plead with Jesus to leave. Why did they do this? Salvation was among them, but they didn’t want it. It could be a combination of fear at the power of Jesus, and a fear of more economic loss. Two thousand pigs must have been worth a fair amount.

5:18-20

Jesus began to leave, giving the people what they had asked for. It has often been said that the worst thing God can do to a person is to give them what they want. The previously demon-possessed man begged to go with Jesus. Jesus would not allow this. Instead He told him to go to his own people and tell them how much the Lord had done for them. This is in contrast to the instruction often given to demons and Jews not to tell anyone. Why the difference? Maybe because Jesus these people were predominantly Gentiles, so there was no risk of them getting the wrong idea (i.e. thinking Jesus was a military messiah). It would also prepare the ground for the later spread of the gospel. The man did as he was told, and the people were amazed. A gentile man was more obedient than the Jewish people.

2 Samuel 16:18-23 - What should we do?

16:18,19

Hushai replies by saying that he will serve the one whom God has chosen, implying that Absalom is now the chosen one. This might have flattered Absalom. He also says that he is serving the son of David, so he was still being loyal to the house of David. David has made this explanation plausible. First, it is not clear how well known David’s sins were, but if they were known then he had forfeited his previous honour. Secondly David had abandoned Jerusalem, implicitly abandoning the throne.

16:20-23

Absalom now turns to Ahithophel for advice. Ahithophel tells Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines, and to do so openly so that it would become public knowledge. This would bring disgrace upon David. This was a fulfilment of Nathan’s word in 2 Sam 12:11,12. Ahithophel was highly regarded by both David and Absalom, treating his words as though they were the wisdom of God.

Mark 5:14,15 - The man was in his right mind

5:14

Those tending the pigs were naturally rather perturbed by what had happened.  They went into the town and described what had just happened. The people from the town then came out to see Jesus. We then see two very different things, the effect of all this on the previously demon possessed man, and the response of the people.

5:15

The man was now dressed and was in his right-mind. His dignity had been restored. This is what Jesus does for people. When we repent and turn to Christ He restores our dignity. Rebelling against God leads to us losing our dignity, as an example look at the effects of various sorts of sexual sin, or drunkenness, or drugs. God created us as the pinnacle of His creation, and when we are restored by Him our dignity is restored. The people were afraid, for something that was not explicable had happened.

2 Samuel 16:11-17 - My son is trying to kill me

16:11,12

We see something of the emotional turmoil within David, and the humbling effect of God’s judgement upon him. His own son is trying to kill him, and he knows that all this stems from his action with Bathsheba and Uriah. So David does consider himself in any position to be judging Shimei. He sees it as part of God’s judgement upon himself. He is also trusting to God’s mercy, and hoping for restoration to “His covenant blessing”.

16:13,14

So David and his not so merry men continue on their journey, with Shimei cheerfully cursing and throwing stones at them. Eventually they reach their destination, tired and exhausted.

16:15-17

While David is on his travels, Absalom and Ahithophel arrive in Jerusalem. David’s “plant”, Hushai, also arrives in Jerusalem, and declares his allegiance to the new king. Absalom initially is not impressed by Hushai, possibly suspicious of him as well, questioning why he has abandoned David.

Mark 5:11-13 - Send us among the pigs

5:11,12

We see that these events were taking place in a largely Gentile region by the presence of pigs, Jews were not allowed to farm pigs. The demons pleaded with Jesus to be allowed to go into the pigs. It is not clear why the demons thought that this was a good idea, and it turned out not to be a good idea at all. Demonic powers can be powerful, but they can also be very foolish. 

5:13

Jesus granted them this permission, and the demons duly went into the pigs. Again, we are not told why Jesus granted the demons their request, though perhaps it was because He knew what the outcome would be. Things did not end well for either the pigs or the demons. Once the demons had entered the pigs, they rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. Demons never have a good effect on anything.