“People brought all their sick to Him...and all who touched Him were healed” Matthew14:35-36
The March 4, 2015 issue of The New Yorker magazine, featured an article by Maria Kannikova discussing a study that revealed how long-range problems were created among babies in an orphanage in Romania due to sensory deprivation. They were not held and nurtured appropriately from birth, so lacking loving, human touch during early childhood, these children grew up with physical and emotional insecurities and disabilities. Modern research shows that the sense of touch appears to stimulate our bodies to lower blood pressure and heart rates, release the hormone cortisol, which regulates the body’s stress response, and deposits positive emotions in our memory banks. No wonder many parents of newborns today are encouraged to spend “skin to skin” time holding their babies close. But then, scripture teaches that long ago God knew the importance of holding His children close: “...He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom...” (Isaiah 40:11).
It's interesting to think about God’s earliest framing of the use of touch. Genesis 2:7 describes God’s divine touch tenderly forming man from the dust of the earth and breathing into him the breath of life—in contrast to His simply speaking creation into existence. Then in verse 17, God sets boundaries with Adam, and Eve later ad libs that God commanded them not to touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She somehow anticipates that there will be times when touch is forbidden (as in Exodus 19:12 when God declares at Mt. Sinai, “...Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.”) The message suggests that there is power in human touch, and it can be used for good or bad. Our willingness to obey God is the determining factor.
Jesus’s miracles often included His touching people as He went about doing good. When He touched, He made the blind see, the deaf hear, tongues speak, diseased skin clear up, and a touch of His hand on Peter’s mother-in-law’s hand caused her fever to leave (Matthew 8:14-15). Thankfully, those of us who are Christ followers today can also sing the lyrics of William Gaither’s song, “He touched me, oh, He touched me/ And oh, the joy that floods my soul/ Something happened, and now I know/ He touched me, and made me whole.”
But a moving encounter between Jesus and an “unclean woman,” according to Jewish law, stands out in Mark 5:21-43. She presses through the crowd, driven by the thought, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed" (v.28). Luke 9:43-48 highlights the drama of this moment even more by adding, “As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.” With all His senses on high alert, “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked...Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.” This scene speaks to me of the ease with which Jesus reaches out to meet my needs—sometimes without my even asking, for He says in Isaiah 65:24, “...before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” But an even more amazing thought is that I can touch Him! He has given me the privilege of entering His presence with a standing invitation just to share precious moments of fellowship with Him. My touch brings Him joy, discharges His power in a flow of mercy and grace that is symbolized in the flow of blood discharging from the woman. Just as Jesus took the initiative to leave heaven and come to earth to save me, I must take the initiative to show my love and gratitude in return. When I pray, spend time in the Word listening and waiting on Him, I touch the heart of God. Times of worship and praise are reminiscent of the God-ordained priestly robes adorned with bells that signaled God being approached in the Holy of Holies. God is approachable through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His touch is available to strengthen me spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. May I be as eager to touch Him in daily devotional time as He is to touch me.