TEXT [Commentary]

5. Healing of the sick in Gennesaret (6:53-56; cf. Matt 14:34-36)

53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

NOTES

6:53 Gennesaret. The exact location is not certain. It is either a small plain on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee south of Capernaum or a town on that plain (Lane 1974:239).

6:56 to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe. The attitude here is like that of the woman in 5:25-28 (see note on 3:10 about touching; see also Acts 5:15; 19:11-12 for healing through touch).

the fringe of his robe. The reference is probably to the tassels on the fringe of Jewish garments that signified dedication to God (Hurtado 1989:91; Marcus 2000:437; Num 15:38-40; Deut 22:12; Matt 23:5).

COMMENTARY [Text]

This summary shows that Jesus was continuing his ministry of compassion (see 3:7-12) even though the crowds did not really understand his work. Jesus’ comprehensive power attested to his divine identity, but the people continued to see him as a wonder-worker. For Mark, this was an unfortunate attitude, because Jesus was so much more than this.