To Touch and to Be Touched Is Priceless

When no one likes you, it’s easy to become bitter. When you’re untouchable, it’s easy to give up on life. Jesus always seemed to search out the unliked and the untouchable. When He found them, He would do more than like them, He would love them. And He would touch them! Mark commits only four verses of material to the conversation Jesus held with this particular leper (Mark 8:1-4), but the story is overwhelmingly moving. Can you just imagine it, an untouchable leper with running sores being approached by the Creator of the universe?

Isn’t that the way we feel when we’re touched by Him? Often His touches come to us through others. I can recall times when I’ve been touched in such a way that I felt the affirmation of God. Once my wife took my hand when I had received a phone call with bad news. Another time a denominational leader hugged me for no apparent reason, except to offer his encouragement. Earlier today, an entire family touched my life.

I was at the office when a knock came at my door. There was a Mom outside with her three children asking for assistance. This is a common occurrence since we are located on a main thoroughfare, just off Interstate 65. But she was different. There was in her voice a notable measure of trepidation about asking for money, but she needed to buy her children school supplies… school supplies? Yes. Paper. Pencils. And as one of the boys added shyly, “and glue and scissors.” Most of us have these items neatly tucked away in our junk drawers.

I drove to K-Mart, purchased a gift card, and quickly returned to the church to find them waiting on the front sidewalk. I handed her the card and began to say the usual “thanks for stopping by” when she caught me by surprise. She hugged me. Then each of her three children hugged me as well. I cannot adequately describe the feeling that followed. In the past seven years, I’ve dealt with hundreds of people asking for assistance. I’ve become quite skilled at saying “no” gracefully when I am skeptical of their stories. I’ve learned to swallow the disappointment of not being able to help them all. It’s simply a part of my weekly routine. Hugs from strangers are not routine, however.

It caused me to think. First I thought of the fact that in seven years, having dealt with so many people whom we’ve helped in some way, I can only recall about three who offered such a priceless sign of gratitude. I then wondered how many times I’ve received, without giving in return. How many chances have I missed to bless another with a hug, a pat on the back, even a smiling word of affirmation. I also thought of how little affection I’ve shown for Jesus in comparison with all that He’s given to me. Ultimately, however, I was simply overwhelmed. In that second and a half, Jesus ministered to me through a stranger.

Jesus’ touch affirms that even though we have nothing to offer such a great God, He sees us as priceless. His touch conveys real, personal affection for each of us. It demonstrates that Jesus was never so concerned with His own dignity that He would not condescend to our level, to love us where we are. He picks us up from the dust and rubble of our broken lives and He cleans us off. He washes our feet. He hugs us!

I can definitely identify with Bill Gaither who wrote, “He touched me, oh, He touched me! And oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole!” Have you felt His touch in your life? The secret is in the approach. To the proud, arrogant, legalistic Pharisee, He turns with a rebuke. But to the leper, bowed in humble contrition, He offers His hand!