Matthew 14:34-36 34And after they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that neighboring area and brought to him all who were badly off 36and implored him in order that they might only touch the edge of his cloak. And as many as touched it were made well.
These verses may seem insignificant on the surface, but they imply a lot. The only appropriate account to give after the great miracles of the feeding of the five thousand and walking on water is people’s response of awe. The choice about who Jesus is has been made clearer as the story continues. Matthew has been building to a climax, which will come later in the Gospel. In the previous story, Peter’s fear and doubt represent how many people feel and react to the world and Jesus. They may have a spark of faith (like the seed scattered on the rocky soil), but they do not commit themselves fully in their commitment to Jesus and the way of discipleship.
Gennesaret was a general area along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee south of Capernaum. Even in that area, people had heard about Jesus and his miraculous power. Matthew’s description gets extravagant with the inclusive all who were sick. Nothing was impossible for Jesus. The key factor in this short story is in the phrase they recognized (epignontes) him. The word used here can sometimes mean a deeper recognition than simply knowing about something in a general way. It is coming to know something or someone is a more personal way. The people of Gennesaret came to realize something significant about Jesus, that he was more than a good teacher but that he had power and authority over diseases.
Matthew’s description in verse 36 emphasizes the “I AM” power of Jesus seen in walking on water. Nothing could stand in the way of Jesus and his mission of healing and saving. This verse stresses the power of Jesus in that even just touching the fringe of his out cloak would bring healing. Power radiated from him. This is an apt closing to an important chapter about the power and identity of Jesus. As Messiah and Immanuel, Jesus had complete control over nature and disease.
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