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| Mark 1:40-45 - The Touch of Jesus |
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Many in our day are suffering. Many are isolated socially and financially. Some are not able to earn income, and some are able but can not find employment. There are those who have been separated from family and friends. There are those who are fighting sickness and disease, struggling just to stay alive another day. In the midst of it all, I have hope. My hope is in Jesus. More and more suffering people must feel the touch of Jesus in our day.
The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark closes with a startling paragraph of Scripture that displays both human despair and the love of God. Jesus comes into our world proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God that is established in Him. He victoriously combated evil and it’s captivity of people. Along the way, He left His followers a wonderful pattern; an example to follow. Let’s look at the last paragraph of Scripture in Mark chapter one.
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
(Mark 1:40-45 ESV)
First of all, let’s take a look at the one in need. His name and past is not given, but his present situation is and it is not pleasant. This man has leprosy, an incurable disease. Leprosy is described in Leviticus chapter 13 of God’s Word. To have leprosy in the days of Jesus meant that you were separated from your friends and family. No longer could you be touched as your would be considered “unclean” under the Mosaic Law. You would be separated from family and friends being forced to live on the outskirts of the city with other lepers. When you walked through the city, you were to keep your upper lip covered and have to declare yourself unclean as you walked shouting “leper, leper, unclean.” You watched the crowds divide and stay far from you as you walk through. Being shunned by all, you were financially and socially isolated, unable to work and dependent on charity. That was the life of this leper.
I wonder what life was like for this man prior to being declared “unclean” with leprosy. Did he have a wife? If so, how long had it been since he felt her loving touch? How long had it been since her lips touched his?
Did He have children? How long had it been since he felt the loving embrace of his child’s arms around his neck? How long since he had held his children in his lap.
I’m sure that he longed once again to just be touched and to touch his family and his friends. He could no longer associate with them. Their touches were now just a part of his memory and he stayed secluded for their well being. He would never want any of them to go through what he was experiencing. He loved them too much.
Then one day, he heard about Jesus being in His city. He had heard of the exorcisms and miracles that were happening, but would Jesus be willing to associate with a social outcast who was “unclean” and incurable? In his total desperation, he goes to Jesus and says “if you will, you can make me clean.” This leper did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him. He doubted Jesus’ willingness to heal him.
Beloved, we know that Jesus can help us, but do we sometimes doubt His willingness? May we always remember that Jesus is not only able, but He is willing to help. His help may come when we least expect it and in ways that we never imagined, but He will help us. He will help us from earth to glory as we follow Him. It will be a wonderful and victorious journey.
What Jesus does next is startling to the people watching, but Jesus was not focused on the watching people. He was not interested in attracting crowds and that was not why He did the miracles that He did. He was focused on an individual who had lost his health, his dignity, his ability to earn income, his social status, his family and his friends. Jesus responded with a touch and the words “I will; be clean”. The crowds gasped when Jesus touched the leper, but the leper was filled with healing warmth that flooded His being as he was healed of leprosy and was made clean. It was love that moved Jesus to act to make this man’s life better. Jesus did not just feel sorry for him. Jesus helped him. Jesus responded with compassion – a love that compels one to act.
The first touch this man felt for probably many years was the touch of Jesus. He would never be the same. Why did Jesus touch him? He did not have to do so. In all of the recorded exorcisms, Jesus spoke a word and freed the individuals. He never once laid a hand on a demoniac. He would speak a word and the winds and waves would obey Him, so why did He touch this leper? Maybe, he touched the leper to be our example; a pattern for us to follow.
Who are the social outcasts of our day? Is it the diseased? Is it those living in poverty? Is it the homeless? Is it the incarcerated? Is it the shut-in? Is it those living alternate lifestyles? Is it those of a different race? Is it those of a different faith?
Who are the social outcasts in your city? Who in your city is financially and socially isolated? Who is shut-in? What would happen in your city if each person makes it a point every day to do an act of compassion, reaching out to touch one that is in need? I believe more people would realize the Kingdom of God and want to be a part of it.
Beloved, we live in a day where there is an overabundance of armchair theologians and armchair politicians. We don’t need any more of those. What we need in our day are people who will follow Jesus and get their hands dirty in point of need ministry revealing that in the Kingdom that Jesus is ruling over there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. Touch people beloved. Touch people. Be Jesus’ hand extended.
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