TOPICAL TEACHING THURSDAY: TOUCHING, AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE
Thursday, April 4, 2013
“Topical Teaching Thursday: Touching, An Expression of Love”
The woman appeared out of nowhere. “…thinking, If I can just touch His clothes, I’ll be healed” (Mark 5:28 CEB)
“Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His clothes” (Mark 5:27 CEB)
And the woman, who had suffered a continuous blood flow for twelve years, WAS HEALED!
“HER BLEEDING STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, AND SHE SENSED IN HER BODY THAT HER ILLNESS HAD BEEN HEALED” (Mark 5:29 CEB).
While Touching was common in Biblical days, Levitical Law Forbade Many Forms of Touching:
A Hebrew could not Touch an unclean animal: “Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you” (Leviticus 11:8 AMP);
A woman following childbirth: “Say to the Israelites: If a woman conceives a child and gives birth to a son, she will be unclean for seven days – just as she is during her menstrual period.” (Leviticus 12:2 CEB);
A victim of leprosy: “It is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is already unclean” (Leviticus 13:11 WEB); or
A woman in her menstrual cycle: “When a woman has her monthly period, she remains unclean for seven days, and if you touch her, you must take a bath, but you remain unclean until evening.” (Leviticus 15:19 CEV).
HOWEVER, JESUS, MOTIVATED BY LOVE THAT TRANSCENDED THE LAW, FREQUENTLY TOUCHED OTHERS!
He Touched a Leprous Man: “And being MOVED WITH PITY AND SYMPATHY, JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED HIM, and said to him, I am willing; be made clean” (Mark 1:41 AMP);
A Blind Man’s Eyes: “When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and HE SPREAD IT [AS OINTMENT] ON THE MAN’S EYES” (John 9:6 AMP);
The Dead Body of Jairus’ Daughter: “GRIPPING HER [FIRMLY] BY THE HAND, He said to her, Talitha cumi – which translated is, Little girl, I say to you, arise [from the sleep of death]!” (Mark 5:41 AMP); and
A Deaf-Mute’s Tongue: “And taking him aside from the crowd [privately], HE THRUST HIS FINGERS INTO THE MAN’S EARS AND SPAT AND TOUCHED HIS TONGUE;” (Mark 7:33 AMP).
JESUS NEVER GAVE A SECOND THOUGHT TO HIMSELF AS HE REACHED OUT AND PHYSICALLY TOUCHED OTHERS!
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL, JESUS EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO ALLOW OTHERS TO TOUCH HIM!
A Woman who, according to the description in Scripture, was “…a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner…” (Luke 7:37 AMP)…HOWEVER, JESUS ALLOWED HER TO “WASH AND KISS HIS FEET”!
Listen to Jesus: “And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and SHE WIPED THEM WITH THE HAIR OF HER HEAD AND KISSED HIS FEET [AFFECTIONATELY] AND ANOINTED THEM WITH THE OINTMENT (PERFUME). Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know WHO AND WHAT SORT OF WOMAN THIS IS WHO IS TOUCHING HIM—FOR SHE IS A NOTORIOUS SINNER (A SOCIAL OUTCAST, DEVOTED TO SIN). And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. A certain lender of money [at interest] had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more. And Jesus said to him, You have decided correctly. THEN TURNING TOWARD THE WOMAN, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, BUT SHE HAS WET MY FEET WITH HER TEARS AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR. You gave Me no kiss, BUT SHE FROM THE MOMENT I CAME IN HAS NOT CEASED [INTERMITTENTLY] TO KISS MY FEET TENDERLY AND CARESSINGLY. You did not anoint My head with [cheap, ordinary] oil, BUT SHE HAS ANOINTED MY FEET WITH [COSTLY, RARE] PERFUME. Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her—because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little. And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven! Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, Who is this Who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].” (Luke 7:38-50 AMP)
And as stated earlier, Jesus Allowed a Bleeding Woman to Touch His Robe’s Hem: “And behold, A WOMAN WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM A FLOW OF BLOOD FOR TWELVE YEARS CAME UP BEHIND HIM AND TOUCHED THE FRINGE OF HIS GARMENT; For she kept saying to herself, If I only TOUCH HIS GARMENT, I SHALL BE RESTORED TO HEALTH” (Matthew 9:20-21 AMP)
JESUS OFTEN HEALED AND IMPARTED HIS COMPASSION THROUGH TOUCH BECAUSE TOUCHING COMMUNICATES EMPATHY, AFFECTION, HEALING, AFFIRMATION AND LOVE!
THOSE WHO HAVE FELT HIS TOUCH MUST REACH OUT IN TURN TO TOUCH OTHERS!
THERE IS SIMPLY NO BETTER WAY TO FEEL A PERSON’S HEARTBEAT THAN TO EMBRACE THAT ONE IN A LOVING, TOUCHING HUG!
Today, Ask Jesus to Touch You and In Return…You Touch Him and Others!
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Enjoy the Day, the Devotional, and Your Loved Ones!
Love U 2 Life! Dr. SYS
SYS Ministries, Inc. "Where the Inspired Word Empowers and Equips the Lives of God's People" {2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP}
- DrShermaine Y. Sanders
- Dr. Shermaine Y. Sanders, PhD is an Encouraging and Empowering Preacher, Teacher, Mentor, Counselor and Writer. Her hearts desire is that these Daily Devotionals Will Impart Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom that Will Impact and Inspire the Body, Soul & Spirit of Many Generations to Come.
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