Mark 6:56Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord remained at the above-mentioned place for some time. Therefore the Evangelist subjoins, And when they had come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, that is, the inhabitants of the country.

Furthermore that which is said, And as many as touched him were made whole, shall be fulfilled, when grief and mourning shall fly away.

Is the Lord lacking in strength when He grants sight to the blind, restores the impaired, and brings the dead back to life, as noted in Matthew 11:5, transcending all forms of our healing? Does He not also heal those who reach out in faith by merely touching the edge of His garment? It was not this affliction that you unrighteous individuals considered as you gazed upon His wounds. His body bore wounds, as recorded in Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, and John 19:18, 31-37; yet there was no frailty in them—through these wounds flowed the very essence of life for all creation.

But they knew Him by report, not by His features; or through the greatness of His miracles, even His person was known to some. See too how great was the faith of the men of the land of Gennesaret, so that they were not content with the healing of those who were present, but sent to other towns round about, that all might hasten to the Physician; wherefore there follows, And ran through the whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

The body of the God-Man was notable for its exquisite grace and attractiveness, as foretold by the holy prophet David: ‘He is more beautiful than the sons of men’ (Psalm 44:3). However, the divine beauty of the God-Man did not provoke the same reactions in women as the allure of earthly men typically does. Such a vile and heretical notion must be utterly rejected and condemned, despite its acceptance among certain dissidents. Rather, the body of Christ was a source of healing for all afflictions, both spiritual and physical. It possessed a quality that it freely transmitted. It imparted divine grace to all who gazed upon it or came into contact with it, regardless of their gender. The Gospel affirms that power flowed from Him, bringing healing to everyone (Luke 6:19). ‘If anyone touches Him, he is saved’ (Mk. 6:56). This is the sacred body about which the Lord declared, ‘He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood abideth in Me, and I in him’ (John 6:54, 56).

Upon Christ's arrival at the shore of Gennesaret along the Sea of Galilee, news of His presence quickly circulated throughout the area. The residents from nearby villages began to bring their sick to Him, placing them in open spaces, imploring Him to at least touch the fringe of His robe; those who made contact with Him were restored to health. Jesus then made His way to Capernaum, where He soon reached His destination.

The faith in the miraculous abilities of Jesus had reached such an extent in Galilee that the people of the region where He arrived requested merely to let the ailing touch His clothing, and those who did experience healing (Matt. 14:36). Their recovery was not solely due to the act of touching but was deeply rooted in their belief and the divine power of the one they reached out to.

Jesus Christ in the region of Gennesaret performed healings for numerous ill individuals there.