Introduction
‘When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.’ Matthew 14:34-36
After walking on water, Jesus and His disciples ended up in a place called, Gennesaret, Numbers 34:11, which was on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and south of Capernaum, Mark 6:53.
When they landed on the shore, many recognised Jesus, Luke 5:1, and began to bring sick folks for Him to heal. At this time in Jesus’ ministry, many of the people were coming primarily for healing, Matthew 14:34-36.
In Mark 6:56 it is stated that they first begged Jesus that He might heal them. However, it seems that the number of those who were seeking healing was so great that Jesus simply allowed them to touch Him in order to be healed, Matthew 9:20. Those who touched were not merely helped, they were made perfectly whole.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The healing virtue was not in the finger, but in their faith; or rather, it was in Christ, whom their faith took hold upon.’
Those who touched His cloak were completely healed, Mark 5:24-34 / Luke 6:19. Just as the people who stood near Peter’s shadow to be healed, Acts 5:15, and those who touched Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons, to be healed, Acts 19:11-12, Jesus’ cloak provided a physical object that helped them to believe God for healing at that moment.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Jesus only can make us perfectly whole. No other being can save us. He that could heal the body can save the soul. A word can save us. With what earnestness ought we to plead with him that we may obtain his saving grace!’
Though the works of healing provided a teaching opportunity, it seems that the masses were more concerned over their physical problems than their spiritual problems.
And so, it is in a world where men have allowed the physical and temporal to distract them from the spiritual that will extend far beyond the destruction of this physical environment.
It would certainly have been an amazing experience just to have been there. It would have been exciting to see the reaction of the multitudes to the presence of the Son of God among so many who sought healing. Though the disciples had seen Jesus do many amazing things, every new incident seemed to surprise them.
As usual, the Lord healed all that were brought to Him. On this occasion, Jesus at least manifested a small glimpse of what heaven will be. The redeemed will be in the presence of God, and thus, there can be no sickness there.
They will be in an environment of continual well-being, Revelation 21:4. The redeemed will be in an environment where the power of the supernatural will not allow sickness and pain to exist.
It’s difficult for us to understand such an environment in this world of pain and suffering. However, since God is above this physical world, we must conclude that He will provide an environment of perfect well-being above and beyond this present world. This is the hope of the Christian. It’s in this environment we continually long to dwell.
We can only admire the faith of all those who came to Jesus knowing He could heal them. We can only imagine the joy in their hearts and how each of their lives was changed because of Jesus.
And if we learn anything from these people it is simply this, we must not only need to recognise Jesus for who He is and spread the news about Him, but we also need to bring people to Him.
