The Touch of the Master's Hand- HE TOUCHES US WHERE WE HURT

What was leprosy like in Jesus day?  It was an incurable disease as far as man was concerned.  It was not only a physical disease it was also an emotional, mental and publicly perceived spiritual disease, for it was seen as an example of a person who had this disease because of sin.  People with leprosy were despised and loathed.  They would look at this person with hatred.  Lepers were not allowed to live in any community, even with their own people. Think of that if this were you or your wife or your child or your mother, father, brother or sister.  Your child or wife or any of these people, by law, could not come within 6 feet of you.  They could not come within 150 feet of you or anyone if the wind was blowing.  Now get this picture:  This is the man who stood before Jesus that day and cried out, "Lord if You are willing You can make me clean."

Oh Jesus is so good.  Tears fall from my eyes as I watch this drama in my mind and write these words, for I understand the tremendous human-interest story with this man, the people watching and Jesus.  Jesus didn't need to touch this man to heal him.  Jesus had proven that He could simply speak a word and a storm would abate, a spoken word and a person would be healed, a spoken word and a friend could be brought back to life.  But in this case Jesus touched this man.  Why would He do this?

The man had likely been untouched by another human being since contacting the disease.  Allow your self to enter that scene and put yourself in his place.  He was a son that a father could not hold.  He was a son that no mother could comfort.  He was a father who could not embrace his child.  He was a husband who could have no intimacy with his wife.  He was alone.  He was forsaken.  He was despised, and as much as he needed to be healed of leprosy, he needed to be simply touched again and be accepted.  Why did Jesus touch him?  Jesus touched him at his point of need and like He often does, He did more for the man than He was asked to do.

I doubt any of you have leprosy, or any disease that isolates you.  But some of you might think that no one cares about you.  Some of you might be hurting in a place in your life that is hidden from even your closest family and friends.  You haven't told them where you are hurting.  You may be embarrassed, or ashamed, or fearful that you will be shut out of their life if you are honest with them.  I understand this, for not all people can comprehend or appreciate those hidden things we struggle with.  You may feel vulnerable to put it out there for discussion.  As a result you do like that Leper likely did, which was to hide away from everyone.  But he also did something about it, which we need to consider.

When all hope was gone this diseased man heard about a man called Jesus, for His reputation was spreading.  The Leper must have come out of the shadows to be near enough to Jesus so he could call out to Him.  Maybe it was a strategic move on his part to get into "close proximity" to Jesus?   I find that it is this place near Jesus that our dreams of becoming the man we desire to be are fulfilled.  I doubt this man being beside the road was happenstance, for it required too much "law breaking" to come to Jesus?  But he was desperate, and he would pay any price to get near Jesus.  This is when Jesus is willing to touch us where we hurt.  It is when we will pay any price to get near Him where He can touch us.  The man was rewarded, and it is recorded for us to read over 2,000 years after the event took place.  There must be a major lesson here?

My brothers and sisters, if there is anyone of you who is hurting or you know someone who is hurting urge them to come out of the shadows and come near Jesus.  He will gladly receive this seeker.  As He did with the Leper, He will turn His gaze toward you.  When He does tell Him where you hurt.  Be honest with Him and seek His comfort.  Like the Leper, ask Him, if He will, to heal you or help you where you are hurting.  I believe He will say to you as He did the Leper, "I am willing."