Jesus touches the untouchable. This was one of the reasons that the Pharisees criticized Jesus. They thought that if you touched an unclean person, you would become unclean. Thus, they would not minister to anyone they considered unclean. Jesus, on the other hand, came to reach out to those society considered untouchable.
Jesus was willing to come to this sinful earth from heaven and mix with sinful humans. God came to earth with skin on to help His people. You may feel like an untouchable, shameful person. Do you assume that God is not willing to extend His hand of grace to you?
The good news is God is more than willing to reach out to you in His mercy and grace. David gives insight into the Lord’s willingness to reach down and touch the untouchable. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [1]
The Hand of the Savior
Jairus pushed through the crowd and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come and lay His hands on his daughter and heal her. While Jesus was on his way to heal her, He was interrupted by a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
This bleeding made the woman unclean. This was probably why she wanted to touch Jesus while remaining unknown. She came forward trembling when Jesus stopped and asked who had touched Him. She likely felt that she would be criticized for causing Jesus to become unclean. Jesus says nothing about this. Instead, He points out that her faith has healed her.
As this interruption ended, messengers told Jairus that his daughter had died. In the Jewish mindset, this meant all hope was gone. Yet, Jesus proceeded to the home of Jairus. There the mourners were making much noise, and Jesus sent them away.
Mark 5:40 Jesus took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around![2] The child was dead and unclean, but that did not stop Jesus from taking her by the hand and calling her to life.
Will You Touch an Untouchable?
This is an excellent place to ask ourselves, “Who am I afraid to touch?” Perhaps it is not someone who has a disease but someone from a different demographic group or thinks differently than you do. Yes, you may be courteous to them, but are you willing to touch them?
As we go along our spiritual journey, we will meet people unacceptable to the crowd for whatever reason. With God’s strength, we can touch the untouchable. We can cross the line, open the door, walk across the room, send a text, or write a note that touches them. As followers of Jesus, we are given the privilege to be his hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the world. Who is the Holy Spirit calling you to touch?
To hear how Jesus touches the untouchable, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-the-urgent-inconvenient
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 40:1–2). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mk 5:40–42). Tyndale House Publishers.