What does Mark 6:56 mean?
"Fringe" is from the Greek root word kraspedon, referring to a tassel of twisted blue wool hanging off the corners of a cloak. A cloak is a piece of cloth with a hole in the center for the wearer's head, similar to a poncho. A sash cinched the waist. The Mosaic Law commands that Jews wear the fringe to remind them to obey the law (Numbers 15:37–41). The Old Testament also associates the fringe with healing. Malachi 4:2 says "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings…" The word for wings is from the Hebrew kanaph and also means the skirt or corner of a piece of clothing—as in where the tassels hang from.It's unknown if the people make the connection between Jesus and the prophecy in Malachi or if they merely hear about the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25–34). Jesus is clear, however, that the physical touch of His cloak does not bring healing; faith does. It is faith that heals the paralytic (Mark 2:5), the woman with an issue of blood (Mark 5:34), blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:52), and the leper who returns to thank Jesus (Luke 17:19).
Their faith is imperfect, as all our faith is. None of us fully understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us. It is our responsibility to act on what we do understand. To believe (Mark 5:36), take courage (Mark 6:50), and trust that God will help our faith grow (Mark 9:24). The Twelve see and perform great healing miracles (Mark 3:10; 6:13), but miss the message of the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:51–52) and mistake Jesus for a water demon (Mark 6:49). Our faith will go through challenges, as well, but the more we follow Christ, the more our faith will mature (2 Peter 1:5–8).