Touching People

“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.” Mark 1:41

We have used the term “touching people” metaphorically so often we may have lost sight of what it means to physically touch someone with a spiritual perspective. There are lots of reasons why we must be careful about touching people. Certainly Jesus had a reason not to touch this individual from the narrative in Mark. After all, not only was he contagious, it was a violation of the Levitical Law.

The key word here is “compassion.” Jesus recognized that meeting the needs of people involves more than words. Healing one of a disease is a paramount focus in this Scriptural passage, but it is also important to recognize that He has the opportunity to allow this man to regain some of his humanity, and He chose to exercise that option. We would not doubt that Jesus could have healed his body from across the street if He so chose. But He did not. He chose to touch, and with that touch to indicate that we who are the Body of Christ in this world can utilize this most human activity to convey the genuine llove of God for mankind.

It is always inappropriate to touch inappropriately. It is never right to touch someone who chooses to maintain a safe distance from others. But in most circumstances, a hand becomes a vehicle for the transference of care and concern, demonstrating authentic llove for one another. Jesus never separated His words from His work.

In Matthew 25, we are given the “inasmuch” ministries of life. All of them involve human contact. Feeding, clothing, visiting the sick and confined, all demand a measure of touching others. In so doing, we are, in reality, touching Him.

There is a lot of doubt in the world thatJesus Christ is real and that those who follow Him really care (read: llove) about others. When Jesus confronted that doubt about His reality in relationship to the Apostles, He said, “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Touch me. . . .” Perhaps there is more significance there than we had imagined.