That Special Touch

“That Special Touch” Mark 5:21-34

This morning, I want to talk about something special. Something that only a Christian can understand and appreciate. What am I talking about? It is learning to use a special Kind of Touch. Not just the healing touch like a Doctor or a Nurse, but the special touch of Jesus Christ that cures all ills. What am I talking about, “The touch of Compassionate Love”.

The other night, Becky and I were looking at some of the “Special Things” that have been placed in our Family Bible over the years. What Special Things, you may ask? You know, mementos or as I like to call them, “the little pieces of our lives”, notable things that remind us of our love for each other, for instance, pictures of Little League teams and the Cub Scout Troops, and that Special Christmas Dance Recital. Wedding announcements, and pictures of the newborn babies or that epic family vacation to the Grand Canyon.

So, as we were strolling down memory lane, looking through our Family Bible, we found something special, a copy of the eulogy that Becky delivered at her father’s funeral. It was beautiful and she did a tremendous job. To this day, I don’t know how she managed to keep her composure as she spoke to a standing room only audience there at Normal Presbyterian Church that day. There were people from all different walks of life. Friends coming to pay their last respects. Friends that his life had touched down through the years. There were Business associates, Family Members, Golfing Buddies, Church Family Members, Shriners and Masons and a special group of people whom he had helped down through the years. It was something to see!

Contained in her Father’s eulogy, she read a very powerful rendition of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “What Is Success?” I would like to read it to you this morning.

What is Success?

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition,

To know that even one life has

breathed easier because you lived…

that is to have succeeded!”

That was Bob Craycraft, that was his Special Touch.

Without that Special Christian touch in our lives… our lives cannot really be successful! We can be highly educated, we can rise to places of prominence in this world, we can accumulate lots of wealth, we can even win numerous awards… but even after we have done all those things, if we have not truly loved, our lives are failures, and empty shells… Why, what is the difference? BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT LEARNED THE SECRET TO A MAGNIFICENT LIFE, we have missed the KEY COMPONENT and GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT LESSON… namely…

That the things that enrich our lives the most are freely given to us by God and the greatest of these is “Loving compassion”… Jesus called it “the most significant sign of discipleship.”

In John’s Gospel, He said it like this:

“A new commandment I give you…. that you love one another as I have loved you. By this, all will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)

In or lesson today, Jesus is on His way to see a little girl who is critically ill… when suddenly He is interrupted.

As He is moving through a large enthusiastic crowd,… a desperate woman who has been bleeding non-stop for twelve years fights the crowd to get close to Jesus and touches the hem of His robe. Right then, the story tells us, her bleeding stops.

She thinks no one has seen her, so she drops back trying to lose herself in the huge crowd. But then, Jesus stops, turns around and asks: “Who touched me?”

His disciples are astonished and somewhat aggravated by His question.

“Who touched you?”

“What do you mean ‘Who touched you?’”

“The crowd is pressing in all around us… pushing and shoving. Everybody is touching everybody. What kind of question is that?”

But Jesus knows that it was not just a touch, it was a special touch. He begins to look around.

The woman had not expected to be found out. But now she fearfully steps forward and she tells Jesus…

* That she has had this bleeding for so long… over 12 years;

* And that she had tried everything… doctors, medicines, magic, home remedies, superstitions,… but to no avail… no improvement… in fact she has only gotten worse.

* She tells Jesus that she has heard about Him and His power to heal… and that she felt that if she could just touch His clothing, she could be made well.. and it worked!