5:1-20 Exorcising in Gerasa: The Gerasene is a man possessed and subdued, not only by demons but also by his sins. Unclean spirits, slavery, death, and impurity (swine) symbolize the pagan world dominated by the evil one. The demoniac rejects the people of his town; nevertheless, he seeks to approach Jesus at all costs, the Son of God, who acts with power. The kingdom of God also reaches the pagan world. Its actions have no limits. The people, however, are more concerned about the loss of their property (the pigs) than rejoicing over the life of the brother rescued from the tomb. So they ask Jesus to leave their territory. Jesus respects this decision, for his liberating message cannot be violently imposed. Nevertheless, he orders the Gerasene to stay in his region to announce the Good News that the pagan world still does not understand.
5:21-43 He heals a woman and raises a girl from the dead: While the Gerasenes drive Jesus out of their territory, Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, begs him to come to his house. Jairus recognizes that Jesus is the source of life. And Jesus gives it in abundance. The Law without the horizon of life loses its meaning, so neither Jairus nor the hemorrhagic woman hesitate to break it. The woman tries to hide the miracle from the crowd because she knows they could condemn her if they find out she had remained among them while impure. However, Jesus makes her visible and congratulates her because she understands faith as a life force that liberates her. Jairus' daughter dies at twelve. The faith of the ruler of the synagogue contrasts with that of those who laugh at Jesus. That faith, together with Jesus' option for life, frees the girl from death. Jesus urges the witnesses to keep quiet about what happened (messianic secret).
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