Day 5

Matthew 13-15

“And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.” Matthew 14:34 ESV

Although Jesus and His disciples landed and anchored at Gennesaret, this was not the original plan. Mark 6:45 tells this exact story, but with more details— including the small detail that they were originally heading towards Bethsaida. Bethsaida, like Gennesaret, was on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but this can only point us to one conclusion. This same Jesus, who astonished His disciples in Matthew 8 by commanding the wind and waves to cease, this time must have ALLOWED the wind and waves to take them on this divine journey. 

We have no record of Jesus going to Gennesaret before this moment; however, it didn’t take very long for the crowds to recognize Him. How great is the power of testimony! 

“And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.” Matthew 14:35-36 ESV

This is the second and only time in the book of Matthew that the phrase “fringe of his garment” is mentioned. While there may have been some growing superstitions from the original reference (the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20), it also points to the powerful reality that one testimony can point an entire people to Jesus. 

It’s so important that we share what God has done and what He is doing in our lives. If we bottle up our testimonies, we in turn bottle up the power that exists in them.