Just One Touch
By Shauna Leis
“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’”
Mark 5:27-28
This poor woman had been suffering from bleeding for years. We do not know for sure what her affliction was, but we know that she had been suffering from it for twelve years. She had even bankrupted herself at the hands of all the doctors and physicians to try to find relief; only none came. My heart just breaks for this sweet woman who only wanted to be healed and lead a normal life with her friends and family.
But, then she started to hear the rumors that were flying around. “Have you heard about this Jesus of Nazareth?” Her friends likely commented, “He has the power to heal all sorts of diseases and afflictions. He even casts out demons in God’s name. Maybe there is hope that you, too, can be healed.” Hope began to soar in her heart of hearts that maybe she could be healed. After all He had made the lame leap, the blind see, and the deaf hear. He had cast out demons. He had calmed the storm. Could He be the One whom she had been waiting for to heal her body, and with it maybe her soul, too?
When Jesus reached the other side of the lake, there were so very many people. Everyone came just wanting to be near Jesus. And so, Mark 5:24 says, “A large crowd followed and pressed around him.” This dear lady merged into the crowd, hoping to just get close enough to touch Him. She had so much faith that she knew if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed. She did not even want to trouble Him so much as to ask Him to heal her.
Mark 5:30-34 says, “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ ‘You see the people crowding against you,’ his disciples answered, ‘and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’’ But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’”
There are so many instances in the Scriptures of people needing just one touch from Jesus. Think with me about something. In John 1:1 we learned that Jesus was the Word made flesh. He was the words behind creation. He could have just spoken over the people as He healed them and never laid a hand on them. And in many instances He did just that when He did not have the opportunity to touch. His power is that great. But, Jesus, knowing that we are flesh and blood creatures, instead, laid His hands on people and knew that sometimes they needed “just one touch” from Him.
Today, we are called to be that touch people need here on earth. Imagine your best friend coming to you, sobbing uncontrollably because she has just learned someone dear has a grave disease. Or maybe she just experienced a miscarriage. Or someone has deeply wounded her heart. Would you just look kindly at her and tell her that things would be okay and then send her on her way, wishing her well? Of course not! You would grab hold of her and hug her through your own tears so she knows you are there with her. People need touch so much in their lives.
We recently experienced this in our church service. Our pastor was offering up a time of invitation after a very powerful sermon on persevering after failure. A man came up asking for prayer from the church for some things going on in his life. Right then the church stopped and prayed for this man and the things that were going on. The staff and elders who were there came up and surrounded this man and laid their hands on him while they prayed with him. That is power my sweet friends! They could have just offered up prayers on his behalf to our Lord and Savior to intervene for this man. Instead, they got physically involved, letting this man know that they were with him through it all.
Dear one, are you in need of a touch today? Please do not think that you are ever alone in this world. Jesus came for you and for me. He wants to touch our hearts, minds, and souls today in the way that only He can. When we are in need of a physical touch, He sends those unexpected angels to surround us and love us with a love that mirrors His own. Or, maybe you are called to be that special angel to someone today who needs a touch. May God open our spiritual eyes today to see the lost and hurting around us!
Pray with me: Dear God, oh how we just need a touch from You. You are Creator God and created us with a purpose in mind. You spoke the world into being and then sent Your Son to be the Word made flesh. We are just continually amazed that You would love us so much to send Your one and only Son to this earth so that we could have a physical touch from You. You know our needs before we even speak them and what is weighing most on our hearts and minds.
Lord, spiritually, touch our lives. Heal our iniquities and guide us back to Your way. Lord, when we need a physical touch, send that special someone You have picked out to be Your witness to us of Your love. Give us spiritual eyes to see the hurting in the world and give us the courage to be ready to offer a touch from You. God, we love You so very much and pray all of this in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Amen!