This is a stunning story with life-changing implications for you and me.
Studies indicate that touch is more powerful than words. Physical touch often shows intimacy, friendship, or compassion. Other times it’s a warning, a suggestion of danger, or an obstacle.
A friend might hit you playfully, tap your arm, or grab your shoulder as they tell you a story. Think of the person who grabbed your arm to keep you from danger. Perhaps someone slapped you in anger—a touch that said much more than words. Touch resonates throughout our being. Touch is compellingly human.
In Matthew’s eyewitness account of walking alongside Jesus, he tells a remarkable story of a miracle as well as a model for our interaction with the world.
In the dusty streets of Galilee, a diseased and lonely man shuffled in the shadows—his face covered by a thin scarf, his body wrapped in ragged and stained cloth, his gaze down, avoiding the eyes of people walking by. He is a leper, a man defined by his disease, condemned to live in isolation. He is a man without touch, because to touch him is to risk getting his disease.
As the leper came closer to Jesus, the crowd gathered around Jesus parted, moving away in fear and disgust. Somehow, drawn by a shred of hope, the leper approached Jesus. He’s heard the stories of miracles. He’s been told of healings and new life for many – and since he’s dead anyway, there’s no risk to walk up to this teacher, this healer. Matthew described it:
“Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.
Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him.
“Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.” Matt 8:1-4
Look what Jesus did. He did not step back. Instead, he looked directly at the man, his eyes filled with compassion, not revulsion. The leper fell to his knees, trembling as he spoke. “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Imagine the crowd, silent, waiting to see what Jesus would do. To touch a leper was unthinkable, a violation of all social and religious norms. But Jesus did not hesitate. He reached out and placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, a touch so simple yet so profound. “I am willing. Be clean.”
One touch, and the disease that had ravaged the man's body was gone. New skin took its place.
The touch of Jesus changes everything.
We come to Jesus with sins so numerous that we don't even know everything we've done wrong. Next to Jesus, we're the worst sinner imaginable. And yet, Jesus is right there for us, and the touch of Jesus changes everything. We think it's winning the gold medal, receiving accolades, achieving more accomplishments ... yet what really heals us,transforms us, is the touch of the Master.
That is our pursuit. And Jesus is there for us. His touch changes everything.
Whatever obstacle you may face, whatever negativity you may have sunk into, whatever happened in your home, whatever wrong thing you did after swearing you'd never do it again, Jesus is right there for you.
His touch changes everything.
