Mark 5: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Mark 5 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Jesus and his disciples arrive in the country of the Gadarenes, where they encounter a man with an unclean spirit living among the tombs (vv. 1-5). Despite being bound with chains, he cannot be tamed. When he sees Jesus, he runs to him and begs for mercy. Jesus commands the unclean spirit to leave, and the demons enter a herd of pigs, which then drown in the sea (vv. 6-13). Afterward, the healed man proclaims what Jesus has done for him in Decapolis (vv. 18-20).

Key verse

“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”
Mark 5:34 (WEB)

Outline

Mark 5:1–20 Jesus Heals the Demon-Possessed Man
Mark 5:21–34 The Healing of a Woman
Mark 5:35–43 Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter

Discussion questions

In v2, who meets Jesus as he comes out of the boat?
What condition does the man in v3 live in, and how is he described?
The name 'Legion' in v9: what does this signify about the man’s condition?
In vv. 19-20, why does Jesus instruct the healed man to go home instead of following him?
When have you sought healing or help, like the woman in v27, but faced obstacles?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Mark 5: Luke 8, Luke 7, Matthew 9.

Before next time: read Mark 6.