Laying the Sick in the Streets - Mark 6:56

Mark wrote when Jesus and His disciples, “were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was”, and in chapter six and verse fifty-six of his book, Mark wrote how , “they laid the sick in the streets” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, ...” Mark began with the words, “and whithersoever he entered” which means “in whatever place Jesus came” “into villages” which means “common sleeping places to which laborers in the field return such as a hamlet or town”, “or cities” which means “a town properly with walls of greater or less size”, “or country” which refers to “fields, pieces of land, farms, neighboring hamlets and bits of tillage”, “they laid the sick” or “the people put down and set forth the miserable, weak, infirm, diseased and grievously sore” “in the streets” which refers to “the thoroughfare, market and town-square passageways”. Mark shared how people began to lay their “sick” within the passageways upon which Jesus would travel.

The verse goes on to say, “... 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 continued with the words, “and besought him” which means “and begged, summoned, exhorted, entreated and spoke to Jesus” “that they might touch” or “that the sick might fasten, attach and cling to” “if it were but the border” which means “even and also the extremity, prominent part or fringe” “of his garment” or “belonging to Jesus' cloak, mantle or tunic”: “and as many as touched him” which means “and whoever fastened, attached and clung to Jesus” “were made whole” or “were saved, kept safe, rescued and delivered from their ill condition”. Mark shared how people “begged” and “sought after” Jesus so they might simply “touch” His clothing, and whoever did was made completely well.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see the power of Jesus demonstrated not only in His popularity, but also in His ability to convey “healing” even through a “touch” of His clothing. People flocked to Jesus, and those who were sick “begged” Him to let them “touch” Him. God loves people to desire Him, and when they come to Him through His Son Jesus, they shall find Him ready and willing to meet their physical and spiritual needs. Those who are wise will understand who Jesus is and run with all their might with faith and trust in Him.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Mark shares how the Pharisees, “came together unto him” again, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".