Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Daily Touch


UV 2749/10000 The Daily Touch
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matthew 9 v 22

In the space of three simple verses, Matthew records the only instance of a non-volitional miracle of healing being triggered by the woman touching the hem of the robe of Jesus. Her faith that by merely touching Jesus, she could be healed mixed with the words of Jesus, “ Thy faith has made thee whole”, wrought the healing of a chronic disease that had affected her for twelve years- the issue of blood. She could not approach Jesus and ask upfront that she be healed as a stigma was attached with her disease and she did not wish to make it known publicly that she had this affliction.
The woman with the chronic disease could see Jesus and try to touch Him. But since we can no longer see Him, we should ask that He touches us and so make us whole. Jesus used the word, “your faith has made you whole” and not “ well” as the touch of Jesus is enough to make our lives whole or complete in every sense, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, emotional, physical and social. If the touch of Jesus in the first century produced instant and complete healing, it can do so even today in our age and time. Like the woman, we need to have a seeking heart. She sought Jesus sincerely with all of her heart, unmindful of the pressing crowd that kept her from seeing Him face to face. She therefore, received the good news of being “made whole”. But oftentimes, a seeking heart should also be accompanied by a waiting heart in case the healing or deliverance is not instantaneous and takes time to manifest. There might be some issues in our lives that need the touch of Jesus and we have been waiting for years to receive His healing touch and His words of comfort and deliverance. We need to pray, “ Lord, give me your daily touch.” With the touch, He gives us His daily word of the good news of being made whole.
It is faith that makes our lives complete and whole. It is the “f “ in the word “life”, without which life would be a lie. The woman had come seeking Jesus in anguish but she could leave His presence with comfort, peace and joy. We cannot leave the presence of Jesus untouched or unchanged. He makes us complete even as the bridegroom completes the bride. Faith in Jesus has a holistic impact on our lives. He is concerned with our total being and our total well being. Whenever He saw people lacking something they need to complete their joy, He supplied it. When He saw them hungry, He gave them food. When He sees people without purpose, meaning or power in life, He gives them the sense of purpose, meaning and power.

Prateep V Philip

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