13 Jan 25

Rev Gav

Touch

Luke 4:38-41. We need to be aware of touch and how we can use it to communicate to others something of the love of God.

Luke 4:38-41

38 After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. 39 Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.

40 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. 41 Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.

Reflect

After setting free a demon-possessed man, Jesus went on to help Simon’s mother-in-law who was very sick. Jesus spoke to the illness and it left her. Jesus then went on to lay hands on many people, speaking to illnesses and demons to make them leave.

One thing about Jesus’ miracles is that they demonstrated God’s compassion for humanity. God cares. Jesus laid hands on the sick – not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Touching someone is a sign that you are reaching out to them as one person to another.

One Sunday, at the church door after leading worship, I held the hands of an elderly woman and kissed her on the cheek. She held on to my hands for a long time and smiled at me. She said, “Thank you. You’re the only person who touches me in the whole week.” As she continued to walk along the path my eyes welled up with tears. Surely this was wrong? Surely this was an injustice? Wasn’t she being denied a basic need of every human being — to be touched by another?

We need to be aware of touch and how we can use it to communicate to others something of the love of God.

Do

To whom will you reach out and touch with compassion this week? Decide how you will go about it.

Pray

Holy God
Thank you that you are God of compassion,
and thank you that Jesus demonstrated your love.
Help me reach out to others,
though listening, speaking, and touching.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

Why should Christians seek to show compassion to the marginalised, broken, poor, hurting, sick, and weak?

Lisa-Dawn Johnston Jul 10 6:59am

I can relate. Touching is such a wonderful way of communicating. But those of us who are alone are often starved for touch. Whether it’s someone touching and holding our hands as we speak. Or being hugged. How sad is that. All these nerve endings are there for a reason. No surprise that babies die or are developmentally delayed if not hugged and held. x

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Rev Gav Jul 24 17:27pm

Totally agree. x

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Lisa-Dawn Johnston Jul 31 13:13pm

💞

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