‘Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared’ (Luke 5:13 NLT).

HE TOUCHED ME

A man with leprosy fell on his face before Jesus saying, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And the Lord, who could’ve healed him from a distance, came near and touched the leper and said, “I am willing; be healed.” Jesus was not only willing to heal the leper, he was willing to touch him. The first action demonstrated Christ’s divine power, the second His divine love.
 
Certainly, we rejoice in Christ’s healing and cleansing power that is able to save us. Yet it is the fact that Jesus is willing to touch us, when we are leprous with sin, that moves us to even greater thankfulness and joy. He is not only Savior and Lord, but our dearest Friend!
 
This reminds me of an old song by Bill Gaither called “He Touched Me.”
 
“Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
 
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.”
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You sent Jesus to touch us and to cleanse and make us whole! We worship Your holy name! Now, strengthen us to touch others in Jesus’ name, proclaiming the gospel and meeting needs. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.