God Touches
July 1, 2007
God Reached Out and Touched a Leper
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:40
Dramatic Presentation: A Leper’s Life: Ron Peters
There are two days that will forever stand out in my life, though they are completely opposite each other. The first day I will never forget was the day I woke up and found a small, white spot on the back of my hand. I had never had such a spot on my hand before, though I knew what it meant. I did my best to hide it, to prevent my wife and son from seeing it.
But in a few days, the single spot became several spots. I couldn’t hide it from my wife anymore. The pain in her eyes as the realization dawned on her was more than I could bear. My son was still too young to know what was going on, though he sensed the mounting tension in our family. We all did our best to carry on as though nothing was wrong, until one day when my son was helping me sharpen the sheep shears. He was playing nearby, when I heard him let out a cry. I turned to see a look of horror on his face as he looked at my hand which was holding the sharpening stone. At first I thought he was looking at the spots, but then I felt something drip onto my sandal. I looked down to see a pool of red. I had sliced my hand with the shears, and blood flowed from the deep cut. But it was not the wound that made my heart freeze with fear; it was the realization that I hadn’t noticed the cut – the realization that the leprosy had left my hand completely numb. I looked again at my son, whose face was now splattered with tears as he ran to get me a bandage for my hand. As I wrapped the wound, my heart ached at the thought that this would be the last memory my boy would ever have of his father.
That night, my wife and I discussed what to do. The course of action was the obvious – I was to present myself to the temple priests for inspection; but we both knew they would only confirm what we were already certain of. After that, I would be forced to leave the town where I grew up, the friends and family I knew and loved, and sped the rest of my life surrounded only by those suffering the same affliction.
The next morning, I made ready for the journey. For the last time, I embraced my wife. For the last time, I clutched my son, holding him up with my good arm, looking into his face and desperately choking back tears as we said good-bye. He didn’t know I would never be coming back, didn’t know that he could never see me again, and that if he did, he might not recognize me. I studied his face carefully, noting every freckle and dimple, burning them into my memory. Then I put him down, hugged my wife one last time, and walked out the door.
As the priests sent me away, their words echoed over and over in my ears. “Unclean! Unclean!” they cried as they covered their faces and turned their backs to me. And so it began – the isolation, the loneliness, the craving for companionship that was just beyond my reach. “Unclean, unclean!” I was forced to shout if anyone passed by. And so it was. The days turned to weeks, and the weeks to years, every day calling out “unclean, unclean” lest someone should come too close, lest they should be touched with my disease. With each passing day, my affliction spread over my body, forcing me deeper and deeper into exile.
And then, after the years of seclusion, the years of yearning to once again be in the company of those I knew and loved, there came another day I shall never forget.
I awoke that day to the sound of a crowd of people passing nearby. Fearing retribution for being too near, I quickly retreated a safe distance away, but I was intrigued by what might be going on. Staying hidden, I watched as the vast throng moved slowly along. Their attention seemed to be centered on a Man who was speaking to them. As I heard the words He spoke, something long silent stirred within me. I had heard of One whom people were saying was the Messiah, One who could perform miracles. I had even heard He had cured ten men of leprosy, though at the time, it seemed impossible. Not since the days of the prophet Elisha had such a miracle been performed. And yet as I stood there, outcast as I was, and listened to the words He spoke, I became more and more certain that this was more than a mere man, and indeed, more even than a prophet. And the stirring in me grew stronger with each moment, until I suddenly felt myself being drawn to Him, my feeble legs carrying my decaying body closer and closer to His presence.
As I approached, the people scattered in terror. In my eagerness to reach Him, I had not called out the warning, and now the crowds were clamoring over one another to escape coming into contact with me. Some stood between me and my Lord, shouted at me to leave. But He turned and looked at me, and in His eyes I saw a power and a compassion that I could not resist. Weak from the strain and excitement, I fell at His feet, and cried out to Him, “Lord, if you are willing, I know you can make me clean.” At that moment, my strength gave way, and I collapsed on the ground, trembling for what might happen next.
And then I felt the strangest thing. Not strange because it was new, but strange because it was all too familiar, something I had ached for but was certain I would never again experience. I felt His hand upon my shoulder. It was the first human touch I had felt since I embraced my wife and child for the last time years earlier.
He let His hand rest there, and I heard the words, “I will; you are made clean.” From that touch poured healing that brought new life to my whole body. Feeling returned to my fingers and toes, and the scales and spots that had riddled my skin disappeared. I stood up, and felt new strength flow through my body. I was healed! No longer would I have to warn others away; no longer would my days be filled with loneliness, sorrow and longing. Once again I could embrace my wife; once again I could hug my son. With one touch, the touch I had been craving for years, He brought life back to me. With one touch, He gave me a reason to live again.
The Power of Touch
Sidney Simon
In his book Caring, Feeling, Touching, Sidney B. Simon, a teacher at the University of Massachusetts, speaks of a “skin hunger” that is felt by all of us. It is a deep-seated need for the touch, the feel, the concrete reality of human contact. He points out that every human being comes into this world needing to be touched, and that this is a need that persists until death.
We need to be touched and when we do it can be electric. Do you remember the first time you held hands? I certainly do. I remember in ninth grade at church camp how this girl named Donna had been with some other kid named Jim Richard all week and then finally on Friday night she dumped him. That night I walked with Donna to the campfire. It was electric. Her hand just kind of hung there at her side. It was illuminated and flashed with neon intensity “hold me”, so… I did. I counted to three and then… I counted to three, again. And then I reached out and took her hand into mine just like it was the most normal and natural thing. Her fingers interlaced with mine and I gave them a little squeeze. She squeezed back.
On the outside I was Joe Cool. It was dark so no sunglasses but I was still very, very cool. On the inside – it was total chaos. Bells were clanging, air horns were going off, and all kinds of lights were flashing – on the outside – total cool and complete sophistication. I don’t know – maybe, I was a little too cool because Donna dumped me the next day and went back to Jim!
Four years later, I met Donna again. This time at Bible College and on Choir tour we sat together on the bus. Her hand laid on her lap and that electricity started again… The neon lights flashed “take me – hold me.” And I did again. This time it took. About a year later she married me. And you know what? She can still send the electricity through me when we hold hands.
We need to be touched. There is a hunger in us for touching.
The Power of Love
"My grandma likes to get massages, because it calms her down. And when I give her a massage, she always smiles every time,"
Cynthia, 5 years old
Leeza Gibbons “Care Givers”
Leeza Gibbons recounts how a 5 year old has learned the importance of touching her Grandmother who has grown old and struggles with Alzheimer’s. This little kindergartner says,
Her grandmother has dementia and Cynthia has found true power in the form of touch.
Dr. Jamie Huysman says, "There’s nothing more powerful, of all the five human senses, than touch. Touch literally changes not just the biochemistry of children, but it totally changes the biochemistry of seniors especially those with memory disorders." Remember, a loving touch can mean so many things, especially to those in need of a connection.
This is a story of compassion and love.
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Mark 1:41-42
The story of Jesus healing the leper in Mark is not about the healing of a disease.
Let me take a little side trip for a second. Sickness, disease, and death is a part of our present world. Sometimes God heals and sometimes he doesn’t. I’ve been following the lives of two people here in our community who have been struck down in the prime of life. A young mother whose van was hit as she pulled out of McDonalds and a young man, hours from graduation from Haslett HS who suddenly had an artery begin to bleed out in his head – each is fighting a battle for life. Each is being attended to by their families. And each of their families is praying for God to heal them and to bring them back out of the darkness of comas into the light and humdrum of daily life.
Whether God heals or not God’s compassion and his love is present in the touch of his hand. You see Jesus did not cure a terrible sickness called leprosy. Jesus healed a man with a compassionate touch. Leprosy was more than a skin disease. It meant isolation and devastation. Leprosy was especially terrible to a Jew. More than what we call leprosy (Hanson’s disease) was designated by this name in Bible times. The word was used of any chronic or infectious skin disease. Leprosy was serious in Israel not only because it caused physical pain, but because it made a Jew ceremonially “unclean” (see Lev. 14). Such a Jew could not participate in worship and was to be isolated from others in the Hebrew community.
The leper who approached Jesus had very probably not known the touch of another’s hand for years, as all around him were repelled by his disease.
No wonder he was hesitant as he came to Christ and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). The leper did not question Jesus’ power. But he did question Jesus’ willingness to act for him, an outcast.
Mark tells us that Jesus was “filled with compassion.” The Greek word used here makes it clear that he was deeply moved. Jesus reached out His hand and actually touched the man! He said, “I am willing,” and with a word cured the incurable disease.
With that touch Jesus answered for all time the doubts of those who wonder if God really cares. Jesus not only met the physical need. He understood the loneliness and psychological pain this man must have experienced, and with His touch dealt directly with that inner pain.
He could have healed that man with leprosy at a distance, but instead, Jesus disregarded all the warnings and overcame this man’s isolation; and He touched him!
This was an expression of Jesus’ sympathy and compassion, born of an infinite love for all mankind. It was not a touch merely for the sake of healing, nor a spontaneous expression of pity. Rather, it was a deliberate demonstration of love toward one for whom this expression was forbidden. And it’s an action that we are confronted with again and again in the Gospels.
Nothing less than a personal touch with a person in need will ever satisfy Jesus. Now here is the important part of God’s touch. It is not just that he touches us. It’s that God changes us.
Whatever God Touches – God Changes
43Then Jesus sternly warned him and drove him away at once, 44telling him, “See to it that you don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest, and then offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as proof to the authorities.”
45But when the man left, he began to proclaim it freely. He spread the word so widely that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but had to stay out in deserted places. Still, people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:43-45
I’m told the story is told of a man who lived alone, and ate out for breakfast on most mornings.
One morning he was sitting at the counter in a restaurant, feeling unloved and lonely, when a woman came in and sat down next to him. They started talking, and the woman told him that he looked like somebody who really needed a hug. He told her that he hadn’t had a hug for a long time. This woman slipped from her seat and opened her arms wide. He accepted the embrace, and was so energized by it that he went about from that point on offering hugs to other people.
How many people here are struggling with grief and loss, aching muscles, weariness of the soul, or a broken heart? How many people here are hurting on the inside – filled with chaos and electric with fear and on the outside they are “Joe Cool?”
How many here are struggling with illness and disease. Few today deal with leprosy but many here have heard the doctor confirm that they have a cancer, a tumor, a lump, a leaky valve, a systemic weakness, or a congenital defect. Some of you have lived with the dark shadows of disease for days and some have lived with them for years.
How many are there in our church, here this morning, who have not had physical contact with someone all week? Who have not had a hug, or a handshake, or a warm hand on their shoulder? Will they find it here today? Will you be the one to offer it?
Friends, in our capacity to express love, we must never underestimate the power of touch. You see God did not just heal the disease – he changed the man. This lonely leper became the hand of God touching the lives of everyone in his world.
When God touches you – You become God’s touch of love and compassion
To see the infinite pity of this place,
The mangled limb, the devastated face,
The innocent sufferer smiling at the rod—
A fool was tempted to deny his God.
He sees, he shrinks. But if he gazes again,
Lo, beauty springing from the breast of pain!
He marks the cisterns on the mournful shores;
And even a fool is silent and adores.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Jesus is Reaching Out to Touch You and Jesus is Reaching Out to Touch Others Through You
Jesus understood it well. Everywhere He went, His hands were extended to those around Him. The love of the Father was felt by all who received His touch. We read in the Gospels that He took little children upon His knee, placed His hands upon their heads, and blessed them. His words of blessing and healing were accompanied by the touch of a compassionate and loving hand. Those who received His touch were never the same.
And today, each one of us is called to be the hands of Jesus Christ, to reach out and touch those around us, to extend to a world in exile the love of the Father. We are told in the Word of God that we are to greet each other with a holy embrace, and to lay hands upon the sick in prayer for healing. Jesus knew the power of human touch, and He has called upon His church to be His hands – to reach out and touch a world in need of the unconditional love of God.
It has been said that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. In His wisdom, Jesus calls us to be more than teachers of truth: He calls us to be conveyors of God’s love – that unconditional love that will draw all mankind to Him.
When Robert Louis Stevenson first saw the terrible devastations of leprosy he was almost rejected God. He like many before him and many after him wondered how a loving God could allow the awful tragedy of leprosy. But when he saw the miracle of Christian pity and compassion in the leper hospital at Malokai, his faith emerged triumphant, and he wrote in the guest book there:
Today we are God’s touching hand. If you have a prayer need will you come this morning? We would like to touch you, pray for you and let you know that you are God’s most precious possession. If you need his healing hand we can pray for that. We can ask him to guide the doctor’s mind to the right treatments and the surgeon’s hands to the precise location of the cancer. We can ask for a miracle that will confound and confuse the radiologist who compares last weeks films with the ones from today that are clear. But most of all we can ask for God’s compassion and love to be on you as it is on us.
We’re going to have a special prayer time today. If you have a need – now is the time to come.
Response
