Touch

Good morning and Happy Friday! I am thrilled this day is finally here. I have a weekend with a few of my long time girlfriends ahead and this week dragged on as I waited in anticipation. I couldn’t kick off the weekend though without sharing this short passage with you; Monday just would not have come soon enough.

Start by reading Matthew 8:1-4.

This is a story I have heard referenced my entire life. It is a testament to the healing power of Jesus. However, when I read it this time, the Holy Spirit revealed something else to me.

Let me set the scene: Jesus had just been on the mountainside teaching his disciples and crowds of curious people. As he came down, a man with leprosy approached him and asked for healing. Jesus touched the man and he was healed.

The first thing I would like to call attention  to is the way this sick man approached Jesus. Verse 2 says, “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” This man knew the power of Jesus before he even asked for healing. He approached him in expectation. He acknowledged His authority by kneeling before Him, then made his humble request. I would love to unpack this interaction with you, but that is not the focus of this post. So, stay tuned because we may study this story again.

The focal point of this post is the way Jesus loved this man in the specific way he needed. In the time frame we commonly refer to as the “Bible days”, leprosy was an epidemic. The people believed the disease spread by contact, so infected population was avoided and even sometimes colonized away from the general public. If the man was visibly infected, he had probably had the disease for quite some time. Meaning, this man had most likely not been touched in a while.

Human physical contact is such an interesting gift from the Lord. Physical touch from others can be comforting and encouraging. Reflect on a hug from a parent, or holding hands with a significant other. A pat on the back from a coach or boss can make you feel on top of the world. We can feel loved with physical touch, or validated. A simple gesture can be so powerful.

Jesus had the power to heal this man without touching him. The Bible tells us that in the next few verses (5-13) about the Centurion’s servant. However, Jesus did not just want to heal this man’s flesh, he wanted to heal his heart. Jesus obliged this man’s request by healing his body completely. He honored his expectation by healing his heart. The physical touch from our Savior probably meant more to this man than his physical relief of pain.

Oh, how I love our Jesus. He is so good. He loves us in the specific way we need; in a way that only He can. Think about that today and just rest in his love.

Have a good weekend, friend.