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Imploring Jesus - Mark 5
Imploring Jesus - Mark 5
People of the first century often ‘implored’ Jesus concerning their lives. According to Strongs’, these words are defined as meaning: “to adjure (solemnly implore [Enorkizoo]; and “to beg, entreat, beseech” [parakalew]. Our English word chosen to translate means, according to Merriam Webster, “to call or pray for earnestly”.
They didn’t just ‘ask’ with indifference, they begged, called upon earnestly, they solemnly entreated Jesus.
- Mark 1:40 40 And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
- Mark 5:10 10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
- Mark 5:12 12 The demons implored Him, saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them."
- Mark 5:17 17 And they began to implore Him to leave their region.
- Mark 5:23 23 and *implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live."
- Mark 6:56 56 Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.
- Mark 7:32 32 They *brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they *implored Him to lay His hand on him.
- Mark 8:22 22 And they *came to Bethsaida. And they *brought a blind man to Jesus and *implored Him to touch him.
Such requests were made not
The demons because they were facing a dreaded end (both temporary, being cast out of the body, and eternal, in being cast out of the presence of God). The leper because he was living a pitiful life that excluded him from all normal human relationships. The people of Gerasa because they were in fear of a man that had power over demons. Jairus because his daughter was about to die. The deaf because he desperately wanted to be able to communicate. And the blind man because he wanted to see.
The common aspect is that they were all at the end of the rope. The demons had met their match and KNEW who He was and what lay in store for them. The sick had met their match and were consigned to a miserable life. Jairus stood that the door of death for his daughter and was helpless to intervene.
The other common aspect is that they all came to Jesus. Jesus CARED: he felt compassion ( Mark 6:34, ). Jesus was ABLE to do something when no other man on earth could do. Jesus was WILLING to do something. Jesus DID something in response to their pleas. In the case of demons, He was touched not by the plight of the demons but by the conditions that the demons inflicted upon the humans they possessed. To those afflicted, he gave them relief. To those who implored him to leave them alone, he left.
This last group is the most pitiable. The people of Gerasa stood in the very presence of the Son of God and implored Jesus to LEAVE THEM. Amazingly, Jesus DOES! Some people, even recognizing the power and authority of the Lord, do not want him in their lives. To such, Jesus will leave them to their fate! He is willing to be part of their lives, but they are unwilling to have him. God is willing that ALL be saved, but many refuse the offer (2Pet. 3: ). Jesus desired the hearts of the people of Jerusalem, but they would not (Matt. 25: ). Jesus died for all, and the gospel offer of forgiveness and reconciliation is for all, but many want no part of it.
Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts (cp. Rev. ), how will you respond?
Hugh DeLong
