Gracious Healing at Gennesaret | Mark 6:53–56
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at
Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And
when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the
whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they
heard he was. 56 And
wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in
the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his
garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Chapter 6 began with Jesus’s rejection at Nazareth. We read in v. 3 that “they took offense at
him.” We also read that “he could do no
mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and
healed them” (v. 5). Here, however, the people
rush to get to Jesus, to touch Him,
and they were healed. What do we see in
the midst of this excitement?
We see a picture of evangelism. They’re rushing to bring their sick to
Christ. Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he has
borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten
by God, and afflicted.” When we come, or
we bring those who are weak and heavy-laden to Christ, we find the offer of rest
(Mt 11:28).
We see some misconceptions. There’d be fringes or tassels on Christ’s
garments to remind people of the commandments (cf. Nm 15:37–41). Yet, there seems to be strange fixation on them,
considering they also featured in the account of the woman with the hemorrhage
(5:25–34). There’s nothing special about
the garments of Christ, and only the superstitious would believe His hem to
exude healing power. Even so, Christ
condescends and heals, for “a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning
wick he will not quench” (Isa 42:3).
When we come to Christ, we’re sin-sick and deceived about so
much. Yet, if we come, we find a
gracious Savior. He wants us to grow in
grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), not willing to leave us where we are. Nonetheless, He doesn’t need us to have our
lives cleaned up and our minds perfectly arranged before He accepts us—we come
just as we are, full of need, and we find in Him our sufficient supply.
