January 16
I was reviewing a previous week’s lesson on “The Woman with the Issue of Blood” with my elementary kids at church one Wednesday night. She was miraculously healed simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment.
I said to the kids, “Lots of people were crowding around Jesus and touching Him that day. What was different about the woman’s touch that helped her get healed?” One little boy raised his hand and answered, “It was a spiritual touch!” That was not the answer I was looking for… it was far better than the answer I was looking for. I suppose my jaw dropped to the floor when I heard the little boy’s answer. Such profound simplicity. It was one of those “Out of the Mouths of Babes” moments where I became the student instead of the teacher.
There is an emptiness in the spirit of man that longs to be filled. Man’s misunderstanding of this emptiness leads him to reach out and touch the physical world to try and fill that void. Today, hundreds of thousands of people will crowd around Jesus desiring to get close enough to touch Him. It’s definitely a worth-while endeavor. But, what will be the goal of that touch? Will it only be a physical touch, a touch to satisfy curiosity, an opportunity to “rub elbows with Divinity”, or will it be a SPIRITUAL TOUCH, where an inward transaction takes place, unseen by those who only notice “the physical.” I’m certain that all of my physical problems and struggles would cease if I could just press through the crowd and touch Jesus… with a SPIRITUAL TOUCH.
Luke 8:45-46
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
