COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 73
“ Mark 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew Him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was. 56 And whithersoever He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole. ” (Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36; John 6:22-26)
THE MULTITUDES COME TO JESUS
INTRODUCTION
Commenting on the ministry of Savior while He walked among men, Peter said “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). The Gospels are the detailed accounts of Jesus “doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” They are a testimony to the reality of God being “with Him.” They are also a confirmation of the manner in which Jesus ministers among men – how He responds to people, and how they are drawn to Him. In our day, “Christianity” has largely become a marketing campaign in which individuals and institutions are being promoted. The time has also come when men are heaping “to themselves teachers” in accordance with their own desires (2 Tim 4:13). This differs radically from the ministry of Jesus, for the people flocked to Him from every quarter. His Person and ministry drew the people. The word of the prophet was being fulfilled: “and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen 49:10). Thus, in the ministry of Jesus, people were being exposed to the nature of the heavenly kingdom, as well as the nature of salvation. The Lord of glory really has no peers or successful opponents, and He is truly compelling when properly seen by men in this world.
THE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE JESUS
“ Mk 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew Him.”
WHEN THEY HAD PASSED OVER. If we are able to perceive it, these Gospel accounts provide us with a proper view of circumstance. Men are prone to magnify human circumstances and minimize Divine workings. That is a natural tendency because “the flesh” is primarily impressed with “the things that are seen.” Consider what had happened before the disciples arrived on the other side of the lake with the Master. They were in the midst of a sea, tossed with waves, with a storm upon them (Matt 14:24). They had witnessed what they thought was a “spirit,” walking toward them on the stormy waters (Mk 6:49). At the word of Jesus, Peter had climbed out of the boat, walked on the water, began sinking, and was lifted up out of the murky deep by Jesus (Matt 14:28-31). Now, the Spirit sums up the trip with these words: “and when they had passed over.”
This is the manner of life in the Spirit, and in this text it is being lived out in the crucible of the lives of the disciples. Much later, after the apostles were beaten and commanded not to speak, they departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” and were found daily in the Temple and “in every house” teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (Acts 5:40-42). When an angel delivered Peter from prison, he reported to the brethren what had happened “and went into another place” (Acts 12:5-17). After Paul was stoned in Lystra and the disciples gathered around him, it is written: “he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:20).
The point is that, in Christ, what follows trials and testing diminishes their impact, so that they are more easily forgotten. Jesus likened this to a woman giving birth to a child. “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:21-22).
There are those who cannot forget the storm that was on the sea, or sinking in stormy waters, or having to be rebuked because of doubting instead of believing. But for those who will remain by faith with Jesus, the blessings that follow trials make them appear quite small.
THE LAND OF GENNESARET. This was a plain on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, which is sometimes called “the lake of Gennesaret” (Lk 5:1 “Gennesaret”; Matt 4:18 “Galilee”). Historically, this was a piece of land noted for its fertility and beauty. It was about four miles long and three miles wide. The following are recorded to have been found there: all kinds of grain and vegetables, rice, walnut trees, palms, melons, cucumbers – all in abundance. McCLINTOK
This was a figure of the spiritually fertile places that would be found in Christ Jesus; domains where more diverse and abundant fruit is found. Ultimately, this portrayed the “heavenly places,” where “all spiritual blessings” are found. It also portrayed certain places and fellowships where greater degrees of edification and encouragement can be found. David alluded to this when he wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . . . for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psa 133:1-3). Capernaum was, in fact, in the land of Gennesaret, as John’s account confirms (John 6:24). This was the city where Jesus relocated after leaving Nazareth (Matt 4:13-14). That region physically reflected the rich nature of Christ’s ministry like the land of Canaan reflected the vast and nourishing riches that are hidden in Christ Jesus: brooks, fountains depths that spring forth, wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates, olives, honey, iron, brass (Deut 8:7-9).
THEY KNEW HIM. As soon as Jesus and His disciples exited from the ship, the people on the shore recognized Him. John tells us that the people who were fed by the five loaves and two fishes returned, and found that Jesus was no longer there. “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus” (John 6:24).
From one point of view, Jesus looked ordinary – like any other Jew. That is why the woman at the well marveled saying, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9). However, from, another point of view, those who had heard His words and witnessed His works could not think of Him as an ordinary Jew. He stood out among the other Jews, for it was HIM, not His disciples, that they “knew,” or recognized.
One of the indispensable ministries of the Prophets in general, and the Gospel in particular, is that they set before our hearts and minds the real Jesus. It should be known by all of us that only when the witness of our lives matches the record God has given of His Son can He be seen in us to any degree. Those who have some genuine acquaintance with the Christ of the Gospel will recognize Him in those in whom He and His word dwell richly (Col 1:17; 3:16).
WHEN THEY HEARD WHERE JESUS WAS
“ 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was.”
There is something about the real Christ that, when He is perceived, elicits a genuine interest in the welfare of others. Whereas institutionalism, moves its zealots to “compass sea and land to make one proselyte,” or convert to the system(Matt 23:15), acquaintance with Jesus awakens more noble motives. It ought to be apparent that Jesus will not devote His wisdom and power to promote purely human agendas. When He is properly seen, therefore, there will be no conscious connection of Him with such selfish motives and institutional agendas.
THEY RAN THROUGH THAT WHOLE REGION. The region would have been about twelve square miles. Notwithstanding its size, the people quickly spread throughout the whole region with the sole objective of getting people to Jesus. Matthew says “they sent into all that country round about” (Matt 14:35). This is not the first time this kind of response to the presence of Jesus took place: “ . . . they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy . . . they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils . . . they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils . . . they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them . . .” (Mat 4:24; 8:16; Mk 1:32; 10:13).
Keep in mind, no one commanded them to do this. The Lord did not send His disciples ahead, directing them to tell the people to gather the multitudes to Him. However, people who had been knowingly exposed to Jesus did this without having to be commanded to do so.
If you enhance the response of these people many times, you will get a small picture of what happened in the early church. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad [by persecution, 8:1-3] went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). There is a vast difference between Sinai and Zion, law and grace, and fear versus joy!
THEY BEGAN TO CARRY. Unaware of any attending inconvenience, the people began to “carry about in beds those that were sick.” We get an idea about how many men it took to carry a single pallet in the healing of the palsied man – “who was carried by four men” (Mk 2:3). Matthew says, “they brought unto Him all that were diseased” (Matt 14:35). From one point of view, it is evident that the presence of Jesus alters men’s perception of what is important, as well as what is possible. Where thinking remains spiritually sterile and fundamentally self-centered, Jesus has not been perceived. It is also quite possible that He is not even in the area in which such sterility and insensitivity exist.
WHERE THEY HEARD HE WAS. The people brought “those that were sick” to the place “where they heard Jesus was.” One version reads, “wherever they heard He was.” NIV The idea is that Jesus was on the move, journeying throughout the region. Wherever He was, the word went out, for He was absolutely unique, compelling the people to gather unto Him. There is a sense in which Jesus came to the people. There is another sense in which the people came to Him. The perspective is this: Jesus came within reach of the people, and then the people made their way to Him.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as the impotent man on one of the porches of the pool of Bethesda (John 5:5-6). Most of the time, however the people had to make some effort to get where Jesus was. Aside from the times when multitudes did this, coming to Jesus is also seen in individuals like Bartimaeus calling after Jesus (Mk 10:46-48), the Syrophenician woman pursuing Him (Matt 15:22-28), and the woman with an issue of blood pushing through the press (Matt 9:20-22).
There is something else to be seen in this. The Person of Jesus Christ is the dominant consideration – the heart and core of all valid spiritual quests. The people did not rally to the disciples, but to Jesus. When they began carrying people open their beds, it was to get them where Jesus was – not where healing was, but where Jesus was!
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST. The centrality of Christ is strongly affirmed by the Spirit. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb 1:1-2). And again it is written, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
This is not a mere creedal centrality – something that is intellectually acknowledged, yet not spiritually embraced. If the individual does not live with Jesus at the center, there really is no point to confessing that He is central. If men do not depend upon Him, His power becomes inaccessible to them. If they do not see Him as God has presented Him in “the record,” they simply will not come to Him or bring anyone else to Him.
THE IMPACT OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS
“ 56 And whithersoever He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole.”
WITHERSOEVER HE ENTERED. Men must not take for granted that Jesus will seek them out, or that a magical hour will come when they will consciously be granted access to Him. In this text, Jesus is on the move, journeying through “villages,” “cities,” and the “country,” or farm land. Yet, when Jesus “entered” one of these areas, it was immediately known, and the people began gathering there, bringing their sick with them.
Men are responsible to obtain what God puts within their reach. They are here to aggressively seek Him (Acts 17:26-27). It is wrong for those who neglect being where Jesus is to suddenly call upon Him in the time of trouble as though they had a genuine interest in Him. Our world cannot revolve our own persons, and yet leave us free to pursue Jesus.
In this text the truth of Scripture is lived out in flesh and blood: “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isa 55:6). When God says, “I bring My righteousness near” (Isa 46:13), men are obligated to avail themselves of it. When it is declared that God is “in the midst of thee” (Isa 12:6), it is profoundly sinful to ignore it. If one wonders how it can be known that the Lord is present, consider that His works testify to His presence. As David well said, “for that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare” (Psa 75:1).
THEY LAID THEM IN THE STREETS. Here the people did with multitudes what the four men did with the palsied man (Mk 2:3-4) – put them before the face of the Lord. They did not place them in the streets, in a convenient location, and then seek Jesus to come there. They rather determined where Jesus was, and brought the sick there – in the streets through which Jesus was traveling.
It is still true that men must find out where the Lord is going, and get into that path, otherwise a blessing cannot be obtained. If He is leading sons to glory (Heb 2:10), then men must get into that path to glory if they expect to be receive a blessing from Him. For us, that is the “highway” that has been raised up for “wayfaring men” – “the way of holiness” (Isa 35:8)
THEY BESOUGHT HIM. Other versions read, “begged,” NKJV “entreating,” NASB “requesting,” BBE “implored,” ESV “prayed,” GENEVA “calling upon,” YLT and “beseech.” MONTGOMERY These people did not take for granted that Jesus was eager to resolve their difficulties, or that He did not mind them taking matters into their own hands, assuming that a “touch” would be sufficient. Jesus did say, “ASK and it shall be given unto you” (Matt 7:8). James once said, “ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2).
ONLY A TOUCH OF THE HEM. Notice the humility of the request. They only sought to touch “the border of His garment,” or its “hem” (Matt 14:35). It appears they had heard of the woman who touched the hem of His garment and was made whole (Matt 9:20).
AS MANY AS TOUCHED HIM. Mark is careful to state the case so as to glorify Christ: “as many as touched HIM were made whole.” Matthew says, “as many as touched were made perfectly whole” (Matt 14:36). In this case, Jesus did not apparently draw the attention of the people to each case, as He did with the woman healed of an issue of blood (Lk 8:45-46). Too, only those who “touched” Jesus were made whole. It was not enough to simply be in the crowd.
JOHN’S ACCOUNT. John provides some further insight into the occasion. Mark and Matthew accent the people who were from that region. John tells us particularly of the people Jesus fed on the previous day. Having taken “shipping,” they finally found Jesus on the other side. They asked Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” NASB (John 6:25). They had not stayed with Jesus, and thus did not see Him leave. The question certainly sounded innocent – but it was not. That is why Jesus answered them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26). They saw in Jesus a convenient way to fill their bellies at no cost to themselves. For them, the time to seek Jesus was when they were hungry. Until that time, they appeared to be completely oblivious of the Lord’s whereabouts, or what He was doing.
Jesus did not bother to answer them, nor did He share with them how many people had been healed when they touched the border of His garment. There actually had been a lot of activity by the time they came. Jesus had been going throughout the villages, cities, and country, and masses of people had been following Him. Citizens of the area had been gathering the sick and bringing them to Jesus, and as many as touched Him were made whole. But all these people could ask was, “When did you come here?” NKJV
How many times I have confronted such questions. Even though the Lord has been working, people are being edified, and men, woman, and children are increasing in faith and spiritual understanding, I hear things like, “How long have you had a house church?” Such people are no more interested in the working of the Lord than the interrogators of this text.