Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6:56

"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." — Mark 6:56 (ASV)

Jesus stayed with the disciples in the boat and crossed over with them to Gennesaret. Mark then summarizes the work of Jesus in Galilee before he withdrew to other regions (cf. 1:32–34 and 3:7–12). In this summary we see the widespread fame of Jesus as a healer. As a good Jew, he wore the fringes and tassels commanded by God (Numbers 15:37–39). The faith of those who came to touch Jesus’ clothes led to their healing (cf. 5:25–34).