Scripture Reference: Luke 8:38-46
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. 40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me’ ”46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
Let us reflect on Frances Havergal’s song:
Touching Jesus is all that matters
Then your life will never be the same
There is only one way to touch Him
Just believe when you call on His name.
We often think of a touch as a sensation that is felt from giving and receiving a stimulus. The scriptures have given us so many examples of a more in-depth sensation when we experience the heart of God. Jesus our High Priest, is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
The office of a high priest is that of standing on behalf of the people to make atonement for sin. This appeasement was accomplished by the sacrifice of spotless animals, yearly.
It was required that the high priest be holy so that he could approach a holy God. Otherwise, his life was in jeopardy. He was the overseer of the entire operation of the Temple. That is the finances, the governing of the people, the sacraments, and other functions in the Temple. He was the only one who could enter the holy of holies.
Most parents, regardless of their children’s behavior hope for the best. Since we are all God’s creation, when we speak of our fellowman, our words must be a demonstration of credit to our Creator. In a nutshell, we are always conscious of Jesus’ touch on our lives. We also see Job petitioning God in the event that his children had sinned secretly. (Job 1: 4, 5). He stood in the gap, to touch God’s heart on behalf of his family.
Jesus also stood in the gap for us. He literally hung in there for us on the cross, for the penalty of our sins. Now, He intercedes for us, to God, our Father. When we function below the expectations God has for us, He remembers that we are recycled dust, and He pities us. Sin knows no boundary except the believer’s application of the blood of Jesus. Does that mean that we should abuse God’s grace? Actually, it means we should run to Jesus, repent and purpose to walk in God’s righteousness.
The disciples on the road to Emmaus, experienced what it meant to touch God’s heart. As they conversed about the news of the day, a stranger joined them and asked what their conversation was about. Not knowing that this stranger was Jesus, they listened intently. His words touched their heart so much, it was described as a burning. (Luke 24: 32)
God’s presence touches us when our conversations please Him. Therefore, as believers, we are admonished to let our words be gracious. (Ephesians 4: 29). The true test of spirituality is measured by the control that we have over our tongue. The book of James says it cannot be tamed. It is unruly. However, if we live/abide in the consciousness of God’s influence on our lives, we will be able to function at a higher level in Him. Let us seek to redeem the time.
With Jesus’ touch, lives are transformed. We read of Zacchaeus. The touch he experienced, reached to the depths of his hoarded finances. He became willing, without being prompted, to return every dollar, with interest, that he had gained dishonestly. No one had to browbeat him. He realized that he had to show the citizens that his heart had received a touch from Jesus. (Luke 19:1-10)
Zacchaeus climbed a Sycamore tree. These trees are known to be tall and sturdy, but are a haven for bugs, insects, and fungus. These odds could have inhibited Zacchaeus, but because the touch of his heart reached deeper than his skin, he willingly soared above even his physical limitation.
When our hearts are touched, a changed life becomes evident. It is required of believers to be just, merciful, and humble. (Micah 6: 8). Jesus gave the example of what it means to be merciful, by way of the story of the Good Samaritan.
The Samaritan showed compassion on a Jew who was robbed, beaten, and abandoned on the side of a lonely road. Those two groups of people were arch-enemies. They were separate and unequal according to the law of their day. Even the religious leaders practiced the common expectations of the people, NOT the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do to you). It was written in their doctrine that was handed down by Moses. It takes God’s character to touch us and propel us to be as merciful as the Samaritan. (Luke 10: 25-37)
The Gadarene demoniac also received what was more than a physical touch. Demons plagued his life to the magnitude that society was uncomfortable with his behavior. He lived in the cemetery, but when he saw Jesus in the distance, the unclean spirits feigned worship (Mark 5: 18-20). At Jesus’ rebuke, the demons went into a herd of pigs, who ultimately drowned themselves. Now, the man, no longer a demoniac, was free to worship sincerely. He was also released to evangelize.
For him, touching Jesus was more than physical. His condition was touched. His circumstances were touched. Even his very existence was touched. His new-found desire was to relocate from among the tombs. Everyone who saw him and knew his past was still afraid of him. That is what happens when people decide to cocoon us in the way it used to be, and not appreciate our newness of life.
We cannot reside among the dead things in our life when Jesus touches our circumstance. We are no longer bound by anything that restricted our advancement to higher heights in our Christian walk. The chains that were used to hold the demon-possessed man captive, seemed unnecessary then, although at one season of his life, they were necessary. They became useless and unessential when Jesus stepped in. His life was no longer chaotic. It became subdued, an asset to society and did not need to be tamed.
When the demoniac was freed by Jesus’ spiritual touch, his nakedness was covered, and his mind became right. The process of Jesus’ touch culminated in a heart-touching message for the town.
How will the crowds around respond to our life’s testimony when we exemplify that we have been touched? Or do we still cut ourselves with the sharp things that seem to surround us? Hebrews 4: 12 tells us that one of the ways that we are touched is by being influenced and affected by the word of God. Words are so powerful that they are etched in our mind and emotions. Ultimately, words breed actions. Words can hurt, heal, engender strife, or edify. They permeate the atmosphere as soon as they are spoken, and they cannot be retrieved.
Everyone yearns for power and influence in some form. The easiest and most effective way to seize those, is by having a command of the word of God. It is our God-given right to wield that two-edged sword with authority. It is the only thing that affects our soul, spirit, and bones, simultaneously. In the same way that our bodies are framed by our skeleton, the spiritual man is designed to be shaped by the word of God. It also knows the intent of our heart. Without being touched by the word of God, man’s heart remains wicked, and desperate for change, renewal, and redemption.
The woman with the issue of blood realized that touching Jesus meant a divine transferal of power. Yes, we may at times require physical touch, but the deep-seated need of everyone is a divine touch because that changes our sin-destined course. Let us acknowledge and yearn for touching Jesus, which is more than physical.
Dr. O. A. James
REFLECTION
Let us compare a physical versus a spiritual touch.