Fringes
Mark 6:56
56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
When I was a little boy I got a Davy Crockett jacket and I loved it. My favorite part was the fringe along the sleeves (Lloyd Christmas). I felt like I could hunt a bear in it! I just needed a musket and a big knife. It’s funny what we might have that helps us identify with something. Obviously I would have no idea of who I really was at that time, I was just a little kid. Interestingly enough the Bible tells us something of a garment and even what the fringe or hem signifies. As we walk through this I urge you to make sure you focus on Jesus. We’re not trying to root out some secret formula or special prayer that will automatically make us a super Christian, the Bible doesn’t work that way. It’s very clear in its instructions regarding salvation, loving God and loving our neighbor; however, there are some things that we can pick up on if we can learn more about the Bible and the culture that was around during those times, particularly the Jewish culture….God’s people.
Deuteronomy 22:12
[12] “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.
The word “hem” means “fringe, tassel, or the border of a garment”. In ancient Mesopotamia, the hem of the garment made an important social statement. Documents from the city of Mari on the Euphrates (ca. 18th century BC) reveal that the hem of the garment represented the person who owned it and to cut off the hem implied an injury or denial of the person’s value. In the Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000-1600 BC), the bride-price (dowry) paid by the father of the bride was sewn into the hem of his daughter’s garment as part of the marriage agreement. In some cases, if a divorce occurred, the husband would cut off the hem of his wife’s robe.
The word used for hem or fringe is “Tzitzit” and it speaks of a “tassel”. The mantle of the time was a long rectangular cloth that draped down over the body. It had four corners at the bottom. The Israelite’s were to attach tassels to the four corners of their garments and hem the garment in blue. Over time this style had changed and instead of the four corners, the cloth became more rounded at the bottom. Due to no longer having the four corners, the Israelites developed something called the “Tallit”. All orthodox Jews of the day wore a Tallit. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment she would have touched one of the tassels.
The “tallit” also served as a prayer shawl, which a person would read an inscription that is embroidered into the garment. He was to kiss the first word of the inscription, kiss the last word of the inscription and then place the shawl over his head for a moment of reflection. When in deep prayer, the head would be wrapped in the “tallit” to shut off the worshiper from the world.
- David cut off Saul’s garment:
1 Samuel 24 1-22, verse 4 says “Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ “And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”
When David spared Saul’s life, he took away evidence in showing Saul that he had the power to kill him but he did not. The act of cutting of the hem of Saul’s robe was of a great significance. David had just robbed Saul of his status symbol, the fringe of his robe that identified him as king. The hem of the garment at this point was also a decorative feature which made a statement about the status and importance of the wearer. Jesus in-fact rebuked the Pharisees for enlarging their fringes in Matthew 23:5 “They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.” They were trying to magnify their importance , whereas the original intent and the purpose of the fringe and tassels was lost. It was meant as a reminder of all the commandments of the Lord and to do them. It was their national and individual identity.
Numbers 15:37-41
[37] The LORD said to Moses, [38] “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. [39] And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. [40] So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. [41] I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
the corner of a person’s garment represented his identity; it was a symbol of who he was and what he stood for. That’s why Ruth, when she was seeking marriage to Boaz, asked him to spread the corner of his garment over her (Ruth 3:9). It was a request for him to identify with her. (The same Hebrew word means “wing” or “corner of a garment.” Thus, many translations render Ruth’s request as, “Spread your wings over your servant.” The double meaning here seems intentional.
So important were the corners of a Jewish man’s garment in ancient Israel that the Old Testament closes with a prophecy of the Messiah that references the corners of His garment: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2 KJV. Again, the same word means both “wings” and “corners of a garment”). At the heart of the Messiah’s identity would be healing—spiritual and eventually physical—for all who trusted Him.
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So hem, fringe or tassels have a meaning. In this context they help us to recognize the identity of the wearer. Their garment was a reminder that they were a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Exodus 19:6) They were to be like no other people in this world. They were in a faith relationship with the Jehovah God. The blue in the garment is the color of heaven, and it was there to remind them of the high heavenly calling among all the nations of the world. If you are a good Jew, you’re wearing one and like we saw last week, Jesus is using every moment, every event to let those around him know His identity. He still the storm, he walks on water, he feeds the hungry, he casts out demons and …..just by touching the hem of his garment people are healed.
Let’s read our full passage.
Mark 6:53-56
[53] When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. [54] And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him [55] and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. [56] And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
So they’ve just crossed over the Sea of Galilee (thanks to Jesus) and here they are. People again surround Jesus and start running to get people to come so that they can be healed…..and as many as touched it were made well.
Let’s go back a few weeks in our story. You heard me preach on this a few weeks ago.
Mark 5:28-34
[28] For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” [29] And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. [30] And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” [31] And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” [32] And he looked around to see who had done it. [33] But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. [34] And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
What made the woman with the issue of blood well? Was it the fringe or hem? Nope…faith.
But remember it’s not just having faith, it’s what you have faith in.
Again, if you’re falling off a cliff it doesn’t take faith to reach out and grab something…that’s just what you do. You grab a limb. Again…it doesn’t matter how much “faith” you have in the limb it’s the ability of the limb to hold you. It’s what is worthy to have faith in.
It’s not Jesus’ robe it’s Him! He is worthy to have faith in. Jesus’ identity is God.
As we saw last week the disciples didn’t want to believe. It says their hearts were hardened. They couldn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, or they thought they were unworthy or they didn’t understand the purpose of Jesus come to earth.
Are you like that today? Do you not know His identity? Or yours?
Again, I can’t make you believe. …but
- Can you not see that Jesus was/is the Son of God? If you feel a tug in your heart, that’s God calling you right now.
- Do you think you’re unworthy?…we’ve all sinned
- Do you not see His purpose?….to bring eternal life and to provide rest for your souls now!
Maybe this is you…. “I’m already saved preacher” this is a nice story and I hope someone gets saved today.
Very good…let’s read one more passage.
Luke 13:22-30
[22] He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ [26] Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ [27] But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ [28] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. [29] And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. [30] And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
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I think the passage today is about identity. Ours and Jesus’
Do you really know Him? Or are you just wearing some nice fringe? You don’t know his identity if so
Maybe wordplay here for you….are you living on the fringe? You don’t know your identity if so.
Do you have the faith just to come touch His fringe? That’s all it takes.
