When we were younger and became sick or did not feel well we
went to our mother and appreciated her tender touch. That touch was all
that was needed. We knew her touch would help us through our
difficulty. As we grew into our adult years and became sick we longed for
the touch of a doctor who could diagnosis the problem and give us an injection
or a pill that would be a quick fix to make us better. Chapter one of the
Gospel of Mark tells the story of a man who had leprosy -- an infectious,
communicable, debilitating disease -- which was incurable (in Biblical times) and
resulted in death, usually within a decade. The leper came to Jesus in
faith acknowledging that healing rested in the hands of God and that Jesus had
the power to heal him. He said to Jesus, “If
you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40).
What we see next is Jesus reaching out to this man with compassion, touching him,
and healing him with a simple command. Here’s how the Scripture puts it: “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and
touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured” (Mark
1:41-42).
You and I need to experience the compassionate touch of
Jesus, the Master – maybe not because of a medical condition, but because of a
difficulty or a problem that we face. We need to: (1) Acknowledge God’s power and sovereignty – “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” (2)
We need to understand that Jesus feels a deep sympathy for us with a desire to
help us – “Filled with compassion.” (3) We need to
know that Jesus is ready and willing to help us just as we are – “I am willing.”
Jesus is in the business of touching lives today. It
doesn’t matter who we are, what we have done, or the situation in which we find
ourselves. You and I can experience the wonderful touch of the Master –
for cleansing, for healing, for restoration, for enrichment, for encouragement, for forgiveness of sins. Are you willing to come to the Master for His tender touch to meet your need?
