A TOUCH OF THE MASTER
Mark 1:40-45
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
WHAT IS A TOUCH?
A touch is a contact with one person to another or things. The Bible is full of examples where Jesus touched or was touched by someone. Whichever be the case, the story has been that of joy everlasting.
There are different kinds of touch. Whatever type it may be, the assurance is that Jesus touch brings joy and wipes away tears. Whomsoever he touches the story changes for better. For someone that is here today, I see Jesus hand upon your situation and your life in Jesus Name.
To some, the touch of Jesus could be THE QUIETING TOUCH. In Matthew 8 we read that Peter's mother-in-law was lying in bed wrecked with fever. Jesus touched her hand and the fever left her, and she began to wait on him.
There are times in our lives when the stress of living makes life almost unbearable. Concentration becomes impossible. Our minds are constantly active, and relaxation just isn't possible. it's at times like this that Jesus can bring to us the Quieting touch, that takes away the fever that torments our lives and brings peace in its place. For someone that is here today, every peace that have eluded you in time past, today peace like a river will return to you in Jesus Name.
You are here tonight, you have been having sleepless night for sometime now, the Lord says he has returned back the sleep which the enemy has taken away.
The touch of Jesus means different things to different people, and different things at different times in a person's life. The important thing to remember is that where the need is great, then Jesus is there to touch.
1. To some it is THE CLEANSING TOUCH as it was to the leper in our story.
'Be clean' said Jesus. In a similar story in Matthew's gospel, a leper says to Jesus 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'
Jesus reaches out, touches the man, and says 'I am willing. Be clean!'
In the ancient world, where disease was seen not as an attack by micro-organisms, but rather as an attack by Satan, this cleansing was seen as a way of making clean that which had been made dirty or unclean by contact with evil.
2. To some, the touch of Jesus is the ILLUMINATING TOUCH.
Matthew 9:28 the Bible says;
'When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?'
'Yes, Lord.' they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said. 'According to your faith will it be done to you;' and their sight was restored.
Faith is a marvelous thing, because God reveals his glory to us in a measure that we can cope with. For those whose faith is still weak, Jesus brings enough light into their lives that they can understand, feed on and grow. To those whose faith is stronger, he reveals more of himself, again so that they might grow even more.
Bible in Hebrews 11: tells us clearly that faith if the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
3. To yet others, the touch of Jesus is THE REASSURING TOUCH. At the mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus was seen in the presence of Moses and Elijah, the disciples fell onto the floor in absolute terror. But we read that Jesus came up and touched them. 'Get up,' he said. 'Don't be afraid.'
How many moments in our lives do we need that same reassuring touch from the Lord. How often do we need to hear those words 'Don't be afraid.' spoken with the confidence and assurance that the disciples heard on that wonderful day.
But that's exactly what the touch of Jesus can bring to our l ives when we need it.
That is why I know that every fear that have so far tormented you, is destroyed today in Jesus Name.
4. To some the touch of the Master is a LIBERATING TOUCH
In Mark chapter 7 we can read of the deaf and dumb man. Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spat and touched the man's tongue. at this the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
5. And of course, the touch of Jesus also was the HEALING TOUCH.
To so many who came into contact with Him, healing both of body and of mind, of spirit and soul. For there is more to healing than the miraculous restoration of sight or hearing, or the curing of leprosy. For healing touches every part of our lives, both physically and spiritually. To many, the healing comes as broken lives are made whole again; to some the healing is a very physical release from suffering; to others it is an inner healing.
The Bibles says in (Mark 5:26) Among the pushing, shoving, elbowing crowd this day is a pale woman. For twelve years she has suffered from uterine bleeding and she is weak. Mark records, "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse" This same woman, in her sickness and weakness struggled and touched Jesus, that touch, ended the sorrow of 12 years.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR A TOUCH?
What is needed is the faith of the leper, of the blind and dumb man and the many others who were humble enough to admit that they were in need, and recognized that Jesus was the only one who could satisfy that need.
Jesus shows compassion to the afflicted and is always angered by the sight of suffering in His world, His creation. It is a symptom of disease, of something that is no longer functioning as it was intended.
But for Jesus to touch us, we must be willing to reach out and touch him. If we will do that, if we will recognize that here stands the one who can bring cleansing, quieting, illumination, reassurance, liberation and healing then he will reach out and touch our lives, and with that touch bring wholeness.
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Key Verse
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48)
