For Hurting Humans 53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. —Mark 6:53–56 1. Almost as an afterthought, Mark tells how far off course the disciples had been blown the night before. Starting from the west side of the lake, on the west side of Galilee, they headed for Bethsaida, on the northeastern shore. The next morning, after being rescued by Jesus from their nightmare at sea, they anchored off the shore of Gennesaret, far to the south on the western side. 2. In further testimony to the fact that Jesus has become public property, the moment He steps ashore, He is recognized. Instantly, the primitive communications network of the marketplace, the town well, and the backyard fence begins to buzz with the electrifying news. In no time at all, the whole region knows that Jesus has come to their land. Like a magnet, then, He draws the sick to Him. What a sight it must have been. If you had been a traveler in the region at that time, you would have seen safaris of the sick being pushed, pulled, carried, and crutched along the road. Grim determination tenses the muscles of their faces as they struggle on, but only to accent the flashes of bright hope that have been foreign to their eyes for a long, long time. 3. Jesus’ reputation for healing. Out of all the facets of Jesus’ ministry—preaching, teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding the multitudes—the people identify Him first as a healer. At times, Jesus must have been disappointed to think that they missed the substance of the truth, but then, again, He Himself has chosen to be known as a “servant.” Therefore, rather than being insulted by the sick who are brought to Him, He feels flattered to know that the first purpose of His earthly mission is being accomplished. 4. What is the reputation of Christ’s church today? Out of all the functions of the church, what is its primary identification? When I am stranded in a strange city for a weekend, I make it a practice to read the Saturday church ads. My intention is to scout the reputations of churches as they post their slogans and announce their sermon titles. “Social concerns” dominate the topics of the so-called “liberal” churches, and “salvation sermons” mark the “conservatives.” “Fundamentalists,” usually independent churches, popularize prophecy, and pageants are popular. Someplace in between are the “community” churches with a heavy emphasis upon “touchy-feely” topics and “relational” seminars. I wonder where the “servant” churches are? 5. Jesus’ ministry of wholeness. “And as many as touched Him were made well” (v. 56). Jesus’ ministry of healing is unique. First, “as many as touched Him were made well.” Healing is not selective. Jesus does not sort out the easy diseases or respond to the desirable people. Egalitarians of our generation will be hard pressed to criticize Him for sexual, racial, age, or creedal bias. Second, “And as many as touched him were made well.” Some show of faith and determination is required of those who are sick. God does not force healing upon people nor does He reward those who play games. The availability of His presence and the determination of their touch are complementary in the healing process. Third, “And as many as touched Him were made well.” In this context, being “made well” carries two connotations. One is freedom from the disease that has enslaved a person. The other is the wholeness that comes to the person who touches Christ. These same criteria can be applied to the witness of Christians today. Are the people who touch our lives set free and made whole? Too often, the opposite happens. We add to their chains and increase their fragmentation. What a difference it would make if we constantly checked our Christian witness against Jesus’ example of setting people free and making them whole. 6. Mark has shown us that Jesus’ compassion overrules all of the arguments against ministering to thankless crowds, hardened disciples and selfish sicklings. These are the same people whom we block out with a wave of the hand. Have we missed the ministry of compassion? Do we wonder why the church has lost its reputation as “servant”? Mark’s Gospel points to Jesus and bids us to follow.1