If had a choice which of the following activities would you do?
Read a good book by the fire or. . .go snow skiing?
Take a walk or. . .ride a motorcycle?
See and action adventure movie or. . .watch a romantic comedy
Take a cooking class or . . .or take a hang gliding lesson
I don’t know whether Jesus would take a cooking class or go hang gliding but one thing for sure, Jesus never “played it safe.” How do I know that? Well for one thing, when presented with a choice of healing a leper, he chose not only to heal him but to touch him in the process, Matthew 8:1-3.
1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
Lepers were the ancient world’s “untouchables.” Lepers were required by law to remove themselves from society, to live in colonies and to cry out or ring bells in warning when approached. Even today, in some parts of the world, lepers are still considered untouchable and as such, they live in permanent quarantine.
Jesus didn’t have to touch him to heal him. He had healed people before, often with just a word. But the leper needed more. He needed to know that there was someone who cared, not only for his physical healing but his emotional healing as well. Who do you know that needs touching? Will you risk touching them today? Your touch could bring the hope and healing they need.
