REMAIN IN HIM

 “When they crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. And wherever He went – into villages, towns, or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed.” Mark 6:53-56 (NIV).

How did Jesus manage to keep up a schedule like His? Interrupted by a huge crowd when He was trying to get some “me time”, He put aside His own needs and taught the people all day. After feeding them and sending them away, He prayed all night, and then walked a distance on the water to catch up with His disciples. Then He was met by another crowd clamouring for attention, and many for healing. It seems that He moved around in that area from village to village and town to town, healing and preaching day after day.

There is another reference to His “talith” (His garment) in this passage. “They begged Him to let them even touch the hem of His cloak (the tassels of His talith) and all who touched Him were healed” (Vs 56). What was the significance of this? Malachi 4:2 – “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will with healing in its wings.” Were the people aware of the powerful imagery of Messiah in this prophecy? The tassels on His talith symbolised God’s name, God’s nature, God’s word, and God’s presence.

The “kanaph” – the corners of the talith – are translated as the “wings” which held the tassels. To touch the “hem of his garment” implied that their faith rested in everything the tassels represented. The faith of each person touching Him opened them up to the healing power of the Spirit flowing through Jesus.

In all this frantic activity around Him, how did He experience rest and replenish His strength? He maintained a constant awareness of the Father’s presence and tapped into God by remaining in the Father. And that is what He counsels us to do during demands, busyness, interruptions and responsibilities. To remain in Him keeps us connected to the source of strength and rest. We become channels that are constantly being replenished, not reservoirs that can run dry with no permanent inlet from God.

In John 15, Jesus used the picture of a vine and its branches to teach His disciples about remaining in Him. A branch does not have to try to stay connected to the vine. It just does unless the gardener cuts it off if it bears no fruit. We are like the branches on a vine. We are in the vine and will remain there if we do not allow anything to separate us from Jesus. He said that obedience to Him keeps us connected to the vine.