Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Mark Chapter 5
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 5:1-20
5:1And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 5:2And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 5:3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; 5:4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. 5:5And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 5:6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him; 5:7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. 5:8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man. 5:9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many. 5:10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 5:11Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. 5:12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 5:13And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.
5:14And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. 5:15And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. 5:16And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. 5:17And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. 5:18And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. 5:19And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee.5:20And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.
February 26, 1933: Mark 5:1-8
Explain Jesus' healing of the man who dwelt in the tombs? In the subconscious mind may be found unregenerate thoughts whose tendencies are destructive. In this lesson these thoughts are represented by the man with an unclean spirit who dwelt in the tombs and who was so strong that he could not be bound with chains. However, when [unreadable] descends into the subconsciousness and frees the soul from carnal desires, these destructive forces are brought into captivity to the Christ, and begin to work mightily for the good of the individual.
February 27, 1938: Mark 5:1-17
What does the word Gerasenes mean and what is the significance of its location on the other side of the sea? The word Gerasenes means "walled about," and it represents strongly organized thoughts of energy and power in the subconscious mind in man." The other side of the sea" represents the negative interpretation of the universal mind that is called the psychic.
What does the "man with an unclean spirit" represent? He represents the personal man obsessed by the thought that he can find satisfaction in sensation.
What did this man's dwelling in the tombs signify? Dwelling in the tombs means that the spiritual nature is wholly under the domination of the sense consciousness.
The obsessed man is represented as so strong that "no man had strength to tame him." Why was this the case? In cases of abnormal development one faculty often usurpes the power of one or more others. Understanding was in abeyance in the obsessed man and physical strength took its place.
Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Why did He recognize unreality as real? Gripped as the man was by an obsession he would not have responded to any other form of treatment. Jesus outwardly accepted the man's estimate of himself as true, in order to gain his attention and make healing possible.
What instance of mistaken identity appears in this lesson? When asked his name the man replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." He identified himself with negative states of mind that he thought of as demons, because he was powerless to control them.
What do the swine on the mountainside represent? They outpicture uncleanness and sensuality in a form that feeds on hypocrisy and pretensions of spirituality (the mountainside).
How were the keepers of the swine affected by this case of spiritual healing? When they saw that the man was "in his right mind," they were filled with fear. When sensual, untrue thoughts are in possession of a man he is afraid of what is true and right.
Interpret the last verse of this lesson. The violent and destructive emotions that rule those who are given over to sense consciousness blind them to the real values of life and leave them with a false standard. Thus they choose the material in preference to the spiritual.
May 13, 1906: Mark 5:1-20
Gadarenes means "walled in." It refers to a material realm of human consciousness which has lost its connection with the central I AM, and is in a state of chronic inharmony. It lives in the external walls of the body -- material tombs -- where its violence is, in a measure, separated from the consciousness. This demon of the skin crops to the surface in so many forms that they cannot be named -- their name is "Legion." All skin diseases come under this head.
Diseases manifesting in the skin are notoriously difficult to heal permanently. Tbey can be suppressed, only to break forth again in new places. This was the condition of this demoniac. He had often been bound with fetters and chains, but as often he "rent them asunder." The "crying out" and "cutting himself night and day with stones," is that constant pain and laceration of glands and cells that is going on in the flesh when unclean or impure thoughts take possession of it.
When man realizes the redeeming, cleansing, harmonizing power of the Christ, he claims him master of every part of his consciousness, and when he comes into even these most outer material planes, the intelligences manifesting there recognize him and worship him, that is, become obedient and receptive to the power which the Christ exercises.
Metaphysicians find by experience that it is effective to address these diseases by their various names on both the mental and physical planes. Thus for eczema, they deny secret, unsatisfied sex-sensation, also deny the existence of the name of the disease itself. This process will suppress it for a season, but it is liable to break forth again. These fetters "are often "broken in pieces" by the fierce violence of the strong man of the flesh.
When the Christ consciousness is called into action there is an effective and permanent cleansing. The demons are commanded to come out and go hence, in the name of Jesus Christ. It is possible to send these discordant energies wholly to nothingness, or oblivion, as the original has it. But there is something worth saving in even the worst of our bodily discords, and instead of losing entirely this physical force, the Higher Self sends it down into the swine, or mere animal life of the organism, through which it is rushed into the cleansing sea of nature.
A double purpose is thus attained -- the selfish animal life of the swine is choked out, and the elemental forces that have been dominated by unclean ideas, cleansed and purified. When needed to again build up pure healthy skin, they will be returned to consciousness, harmonized by the Peace of our Mother Nature.
The custodians of the life manifestations in the body at first beg the Higher Self to depart, when they see the apparent destruction of life. When an impure thought has been broken up by the Spirit, there is often unusual looseness of the bowels, and sometimes weakness and fear follow. This, however, is the passing out of the discord that made a maniac of the Cuticle. This man of the flesh will after this experience be found "clothed and in his right mind."
February 19, 1928: Mark 5:15-19
What state of mind is represented by demons? The man who was possessed of demons and dwelt in the tombs represents ignorant thoughts, as expressed in sense life. These thoughts were so complex and sensually (see Mark 5:9) strong that in their confusion they warred against one another to the point of utter exhaustion, inertia, death.
Why did Jesus tell the healed man to go and tell his friends what great things the Lord had done for him? The man from whom the demons were cast out asked permission to remain with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go to his own house and to declare what great things God had done for him. The freed thoughts and cleansed desires must act as teachers to the whole body consciousness, that a full regeneration may take place.
April 14, 1946: Mark 5:18-20
Can we follow the way of Truth effectually without other change than 'that of mind and heart? We can apply Truth right where we are, in our everyday routine. "Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." With no need to adjust ourselves to new circumstances or environment, we can apply our thought to our new blessings and by contemplating them in a spirit of thankfulness change our whole outlook on life.
To gain maturity of outlook what is our first duty as individuals? The clearing up of our doubts, indecisions, and confusions. Until this is done our following of Christ, the Truth, is "afar off," halting, and uncertain.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 5:21-43
5:21And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea. 5:22And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet, 5:23and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live. 5:24And he went with him;
and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him. 5:25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, 5:26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 5:27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. 5:28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole. 5:29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. 5:30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? 5:31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?5:32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 5:33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 5:34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
5:35While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further? 5:36But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe. 5:37And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 5:38And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly. 5:39And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth. 5:40And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was. 5:41And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise. 5:42And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement. 5:43And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.
April 15, 1900: Mark 5:22-24
This was given as an Easter lesson by the committee, but to the metaphyscian it is rather an object lesson in healing. It may be interpreted as an actual occurrance, or as symbolizing an experience of the soul that has let its affectional nature fall asleep, and which is awakened through the lifting up power of the illuminated I AM.
As an object lesson in healing, we note the necessity of unwavering faith as a concomitant of the process. When the report came that the little maiden was dead Jesus said, "Only believe."
Jesus saw deeper than those who were not spiritually awakened, and to him death was not what it seemed to them. They looked upon it as a total cessation of life, and the horror of it made them wail and beat their breasts. Jesus always saw that death was a very deep sleep, and so spoke of it in this as also in the case of Lazarus. It is so referred to almost universally in the Epistles — "Those who have fallen asleep."
An understanding of this is wonderfully helpful in awakening people out of this deathly sleep, which sometimes, even quite frequently, overcomes the mind without any adequate physical or mental disability. The belief in death is a power in the mortal consciousness and thousands die every year, or "fall asleep," by admitting this hypnotic state into their minds. Children, being very sensitive to thoughts, are susceptible to this delusion, and thousands die from the fears of death cast upon them by doctors and friends.
The healer needs to put out of the very atmosphere of room, as well as the patient's mind, all thoughts that believe in or fear death. Jesus put them all out of the house, and with Peter (faith), James (judgment), and John (love), went in and said unto the maiden, "Talithia cumi," Aramaic words, which are equivalent to "Rise, dear little maiden." What a touch of tenderness and that sweet sympathy which makes the whole world kin is here displayed in the nature of Jesus. "And straightway she waiked," and he told them to give her something to eat. This is so exactly the experience of modern healing that we can well believe that it actually occurred. In nearly every instance the freed patient calls for food.
In the last quarter of a century this case of healing has been duplicated in various phases many times by modern metaphysicians but no special attention has been called to the cases, those who were witnesses having even doubted that the persons raised were really dead. And we rejoice to say that they were not dead — that there is no such thing as that awful condition of conscious oblivion which the sense mind sees and calls death. There is no loss of identity, no departure, no forgetfulness. All that ever was is here now in its varying states of consciousness. The true resurrection is to come to a realization of this — to know it in both its subjective and objective aspects. That is what Jesus did.
March 13, 1949: Mark 5:22,23
In the Christ consciousness how do we overcome the negative beliefs of the sense mind? By realizing that Spirit is omnipotent, and denying their power to limit omnipotent Spirit.
In the Christ consciousness is death regarded as a finality? In the Christ consciousness we look upon death as a "sleep and a forgetting," a sleep from which the sleeper may awaken refreshed and renewed in strength.
February 4, 1951: Mark 5:21-24
In the Christ consciousness how do we overcome the negative beliefs of the sense mind? By realizing that Spirit is omnipotent and denying the power of negative beliefs to limit omnipotent Spirit.
In the Christ consciousness is death regarded as a finality? No. Rather it is "a sleep and a forgetting," a sleep from which the sleeper may awaken refreshed and renewed in strength.
What is essential to constructive thinking in the face of apparently complete limitation? The first essential is faith, which includes an absence of fear or distress; in other words, a positive attitude of mind. The thoughts should always be inspired by faith, judgment, and love (Peter, James, and John, the three disciples closest to Jesus).
In order to overcome the fear of death and its power to dominate our thought, how should we use these faculties? We should have faith in Divine Mind and strength to hold persistently to our conviction of Truth and the ultimate outcome of good. So used, these faculties equip us with overcoming power.
February 26, 1928: Mark 5:22-27
What is the meaning of Jairus? Jairus means "shining" and "running water." Shining, metaphysically defined, means expressing light; running water represents activity of life.
What is represented by the apparent death of the little daughter of Jairus, ruler of the synagoge? A daughter represents the feminine or love principle in consciousness. In this case, it had become inactive, or temporarily had lost its life.
February 26, 1928: Mark 5:32-36
What does the Woman who had an issue of blood twelve years" represent? Again the feminine principle is indicated, but in this instance the life center in the subconscious is revealed as having lost its consciousness of strength.
How was this woman healed by touching the hem of Jesus' garment? Jesus was so charged with the thought of spiritual intelligence and life that His aura saturated His garments with dynamic power and strength. When the negative, weak mind of the woman touched, in faith, this mighty spiritual vibration, it flooded her with new life and she was healed.
December 31, 1916: Mark 5:35-43
What is the true resurrection as illustrated in this lesson? The true resurrection is a conscious realization that all that there has been or will be is now present in its fullness, waiting to come forth at the command of a Master.
How may the belief in death be overcome? Through realizing the Omnipresence of God. I this way the idea that there can be any lack of Life, or God is forever dissolved.
How is this realization to be established in consciousness? Man must let go mortal beliefs of sin,sickness and age, and through daily constructive affirmations set into operation in consciousness, the quickening energies of the Christ life inherent in his Being.
When may man enter into the perfect liberty from all mortal delusions? Today is the day of salvation (freedom). Now is the only time.
What is the true method of spiritual [unreadable possibly "thought"]? The method of introspection - looking away to the within - to the kingdom of God. To keep poised in spiritual thought is to live always in the glory of the present moment; to create a new heaven (mind) and a new earth (body and affairs wherein dwelleth righteousness. "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise."
March 5, 1933: Mark 5:35-43
What is necessary to healing? In healing we note the necessity of unwavering faith. When the report came that the child was dead, Jesus, "not heeding the word spoken," said "fear not, only believe." He knew the importance of keeping the mind keyed to positive faith and expectation.
How did jesus look upon that negative condition called death? Jesus saw deeper than those who were not spiritually awakened; to Him death was not what it seemed to them. The unawakened looked upon it as a total cessation of life, and the horror of it made them wail and beat their breasts. Jesus saw that death was a very deep sleep, and so spoke of it in this case, as well as in that of Lazarus.
Do negative expressions in regard to life affect those who are still functioning in mortal consciousness? Yes, the belief in death is a power in mortal consciousness, and numbers "fall asleep" by admitting this hypnotic state into their minds. "As sure as death and taxes" is a saying that is generally current. Faith in such negative expressions defeats the dominion over life that man is meant to exercise.
When a healer is called to minister to one who is on the verge of succumbing to the thought of death, what is the first thing to do? The healer needs to put out of the very atmosphere of the room, as well as out of the patients mind, all thought of death, either the belief in its sure coming or the fear of it. Jesus put out of the house all who wept and walled, and with the aid of faith and love and wisdom, brought back to life and health the child mourned as dead.
Does the great life energy slumber or sleep? No. the great life energy which is God slumbers not, nor sleeps. We, the children of God, should come to such an understanding of His nature that we too shall no longer enter the sleep that is called death. The true resurrection is the coming to a realization of what life is: to know it in both its subjective and its objective aspect. That is what Jesus did.
January 30, 1944: Mark 5:35-43
In the raising of Jairus's daughter what is shown to be the right attitude of mind to hold toward disease and death? It is right to refuse to accept negation and by firmly believing in life to deny that death has any power. Jesus refused to heed the report that the child was dead.
Is faith alone equal to all demands that may be made upon it? It is if it is pure, unadulterated faith. When we let doubt enter in we by so much reduce the power of faith to carry us safely through.
Did the words of Jesus accomplish the mighty works described in this lesson? The mere words did not, but the consciousness of power that Jesus instilled into His words accomplished them. Of themselves words do not have power. Those who speak them must put power into them.
March 13, 1949: Mark 5:35-42
What is essential to constructive thinking in the face of apparently complete limitation? The first essential is faith, which includes an absence of fear or distress; in other words, a positive attitude of mind. The thoughts should always be inspired by faith, strength, and love (Peter, James, and John, the three disciples closest to Jesus).
In order to overcome the fear of death and its power to dominate our thought, how should we use these faculties? We should have faith in Divine Mind, and strength in persistently holding to our conviction of Truth and the ultimate outcome of good. So used, these faculties equip us with overcoming power.
Is it right to indulge in expressions of grief and sorrow in the face of death? No, Negative emotions should not be allowed to tape possession of consciousness.To do so is to acknowledge the dominance of sense consciousness and to ignore the healing, restoring power of Truth.
What makes it difficult to keep faith? Our apparent inability to prove it. Until we do prove it our faith is not deep-rooted enough to take hold of the invisible substance of Truth.
February 4, 1951: Mark 5:38-43
Is it right to indulge in expressions of grief and sorrow in the face of death? No. Negative emotions should not be allowed to take possession of consciousness. "Why make ye a tumult, and weep?" To do so is to acknowledge the dominance of sense consciousness and to ignore the healing, restoring power of Truth.
What makes it difficult to keep faith? Our apparent inability always to prove it. The function of faith is to lay hold of the unseen, to reinforce hope, and it is by this means that faith lays hold of the invisible substance of Truth.
What is the supreme degree of faith? Steadfastness in the face of apparent failure to prove our faith. Such steadfastness brings the blessing of the independence of the inner man.
February 26, 1928: Mark 5:41-42
When those who came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue announced to Jairus that his little daughter was dead, why did Jesus say to the ruler, "Fear not, only believe"? Jesus had spiritual discernment. He knew that the soul of the girl had not left her body. According to Fenton's translation, Jesus said, at the house of Jairus: "Why do you shriek and weep? The child is not dead, but only fainting." According to the account given in Mark 5:40 (American standard version), Jesus "put them all forth," and with Peter (faith), James (judgment), and John (love), He went in where the child was, and said to her, "Talitha cumi." These are Aramaic words which are equivalent to, "Arise, dear little maiden."
What is the metaphysical meaning of Jesus' having His disciples with Him and putting all the others out before He spoke the healing words to the little maiden? Christian healers find that they must realize the presence of faith, wisdom, and love as composing the dominant state of mind; at the same time they deny grief and sorrow and all thoughts of death ("put them forth"). Then the positive, healing words reach the inactive mind of the patient and the restoration naturally follows.
Do modern Christian healers have experiences similar to the raising of Jcdrus' daughter? Yes. In the last quarter of a century, cases like the raising of Jairus' daughter by Jesus have been duplicated by metaphysicians, but no special attention has been called to them because even those who were witnesses doubted that the persons raised to life really had been dead.
Transcribed by Tom Schulte on 11-09-2013
