Mark 6:53-56

9. HEALING ON THE PLAIN OF GENNESARET. 6:53-56

TEXT 6:53-56

And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. And when they were come out of the boat, straightway the people knew him, and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, 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.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:53-56

311.

Who was with Jesus at this time? Could thirteen men all get into one small boat? Explain.

312.

Please locate Gennesaret on the maphow large a district was this?

313.

Does the expression moored to the shore suggest there was no town here?

314.

How did the people know Jesus?

315.

Are we to conclude from Mark 6:55 that many people followed Jesus carrying their sick from place to place? Explain.

316.

Why lay the sick in the market places? i.e. why select such a place?

317.

Wasn-'t it rather superstitious to desire to touch His garment? Why did Jesus permit it? Why was the touch effective?

COMMENT

TIMESpring A.D. 29.
PLACEThe plain of Gennesaret and the adjacent villages and cities.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTSMatthew 14:34-36.

OUTLINE1. The Landing at the plain of Gennesaret, Mark 6:53. Mark 6:2. The gathering of many people, upon recognizing Him, to seek help, Mark 6:54-55. Mark 6:3. The superstitious desire of many people to heal the sick, Mark 6:56.

ANALYSIS 6:53-56

I.

THE LANDING AT THE PLAIN OF GENNESARET, Mark 6:53.

1.

Occurred just after the feeding of the five thousand.

2.

The boat was mooredor fastened to the shore.

II.

THE GATHERING OF MANY PEOPLE FOR HELP, Mark 6:54-55.

1.

This happened immediately after disembarking.

2.

Prompted by their knowledge of Him.

3.

The whole region turned out to bring their sick wherever they found Him.

III.

THE SUPERSTITIOUS DESIRE OF MANY TO HEAL THE SICK, Mark 6:56.

1.

Occurred in villages or cities or in the country.

2.

Sick laid in marketplacesthat they might at least touch His garment.

3.

Those who did touch were healed.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

53. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And having crossed (the lake, from east to west) they came to (or upon) the land of Gennesaret, a small district four miles long and two or three wide, on the west side of the sea of Galilee, or lake of Tiberias, to which it gave one of its names. Josephus describes this district as the garden of the whole land and possessing a fertility and loveliness almost unparalleled. Capernaum appears to have been in or very near this delightful region, so that John (John 6:17) describes this same voyage as a voyage to Capernaum. Drew to the shore, or came to anchor near it, or retaining the passive form of the original, were brought to anchor (or to land.)

54. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him.

And they going out (or as they went out) from the ship, the men of that place (Matthew 14:35), straightway knowing (or immediately recognizing) him, whom they had often seen before, as they lived so near his home and the centre of his operation. It is an interesting thought, very often incidentally suggested in the gospels, that during the three years of our Saviour's public ministry, his person must have become perfectly familiar to the great mass of the population, at least in Galilee. This, with the certainty that he retains his human body, and is to appear in it hereafter upon earth as he already does in heaven, should preserve us from a tendency to look upon all sensible and bodily associations with the person of our Lord as superstitious and irreverent, an error into which some devout believers are betrayed by their aversion to the opposite extreme of gross familiarity and levity in speaking of his glorified humanity.

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.

Running about that whole surrounding country, they began, i.e. at once without delay, and afterwards continued, upon beds (or pallets,) to carry about those having (themselves) ill wherever they heard that he was (literally, is, the graphic present) there. The construction of the last clause is ambiguous, being understood by some as an example of the Hebrew idiom which combines the relative pronoun with the adverb there, to express our relative adverb where; but this would require a pronoun in the first place. Others refer the first of the two particles to the place where they heard of him, and the last to the place where he actually was. But most interpreters prefer the simpler and more obvious construction which refers both particles to one and the same object, -of whatever place they heard that he was there.-' The running about and carrying about may refer to the same act, or the former to the spreading of the news and the latter to the actual bringing of the sick. The meaning is not that each one was carried from place to place in search of him, but that some were carried one way, some another, so as to fall in with him in some part of his circuit.

56. And withersoever 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.

Country, literally, fields, as in Mark 6:36 and in such English names as St. Gile's or St. Martin's in the Fields, i.e. outside of old London. Streets, or more exactly, markets or marketplaces, as in every other case where it occurs, but with greater latitude meaning than we now give to the English word. The Greek one according to its etymology and usage, means a place of meeting, especially for business, whether commercial or political, and therefore corresponding both to forum and market. The agora of ancient cities was an open place or square, sometimes immediately within the gates, but usually near the centre of the town. As denoting thoroughfares or public places, streets is therefore a substantially correct translation. The sick, or more exactly, the infirm, a synonymous express with the one in Mark 6:5. If it were but, literally, even, only. This desire was only superstitious so far as it ascribed a magical effect to the mere touch, or regarded contact as essential to the healing power of the Saviour's word. It may have been his purpose to reach greater numbers in a given time without destroying all perceptible connection between the subject and the worker of the miracle. (Compare Acts 5:15; Acts 19:12). This is not a mere repetition of the statement in Mark 1:32-34, but designed to show that throughout the course as well as at the opening of our Saviour's ministry, his miracles were many, those recorded in detail being only a few selected samples, and also that his constant practice was to heal all who needed and desired it, (J. A. Alexander)

FACT QUESTIONS 6:53-56

347.

In which direction had the crossing been made? How large was the plain?

348.

How can we explain the fact that John 6:17 describes this same voyage as going to Capernaum?

349.

Why would the people of this district perhaps know Jesus better than some others?

350.

What incidental lesson can we learn from the reference to the human appearance or recognition of Jesus?

351.

There is no meaning in Mark 6:55 of each one carried from place to place in search of Himwhat is the meaning?

352.

What is the literal meaning of the word country?

353.

Show the patience and love of Jesus in healing the sick.