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Verse:Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. —Mark 1:41, 42, NKJV
Of all our senses, touch may be the one we think about the least.
We know the importance of sight, hearing, taste, and smell, yet COVID-19 has made it evident that touch and the ability to feel someone else are important. We hear heartbreaking stories of the elderly suffering and dying in isolation while their loved ones long to be there to touch and hold them but are not able to do so.
We hear of wonderful, compassionate caregivers who try to bridge the gap by providing some human touch during this difficult time.
All of us suffer from not being able to hug and be hugged, to shake hands, or to receive a gentle touch of affirmation. Our loving Lord Jesus knows the importance of touch for His created beings. His touch accompanied so many instances of His healing miracles during His time on earth. The touch of His hands also healed emotional wounds and spiritual scars. When a leper came to Jesus begging to be healed, Jesus touched the man first. That poor man probably had not received human touch for years.
Even if anyone had touched him, he probably couldn’t feel it with his damaged nerves. How much it must have meant to him when Jesus touched him —and then for that touch to also heal and cleanse him! The woman with the issue of blood expects only to touch the hem of His garment. Jesus stops immediately when He feels the power go out from Him. Right there, Jesus acknowledges the woman’s emotional need, calling her “daughter,” and recognizes her spiritual need, publicly declaring her healed —meaning she is cleansed and able to touch others and be touched (Matthew 9:20–22).
Jesus continues to the home of Jairus (who asks Jesus to simply touch his daughter) and takes the hand of the little girl, bringing her back to life (verse 25).
Matthew 14:36 tells us that all who reached out to touch Him were healed. Jesus is as ready today as He was then to meet us at our point of greatest need when we reach out to Him and request His touch upon us. He is as willing to touch us as He was the leper. He will heal us. He will restore life itself.
Myrna Hanna