As I did my reading this morning, I read Mark 5:21-43 and was awestruck by the power of Yeshua's healing touch. I kept thinking about how all it takes is one touch from our Lord and Savior - and it's that simple - we are healed, delivered, and set free!
Some might believe this power was only available when He walked the earth. But I believe this truth is for now, today, even though He is not physically here.
But He IS here!
He is Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent. He is alive if you believe in Him. He gave us the Gift of His Word, and He IS the Word, He is still alive!
There are numerous scientific articles about physical touch and how beneficial it is to us as humans. Statistics prove how touch makes a difference. As I was doing my research, I found an article by Dacher Keltner called “The Science of Touch.” In it, he states:
“A pat on the back, a caress of the arm—these are everyday, incidental gestures that we usually take for granted, thanks to our amazingly dexterous hands. But after years spent immersed in the science of touch, I can tell you that they are far more profound than we usually realize: They are our primary language of compassion and a primary means for spreading compassion.”
In recent years, a wave of studies have documented some incredible emotional and physical health benefits from touch. This research suggests that physical contact is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health. In fact, in further study, I’ve found that people can not only identify love, gratitude, and compassion from touches but also differentiate between those kinds of touches— something people haven’t done as well in within the studies of facial and vocal communication. [i]
There are many, many articles like this one if you do a Google search.
Regardless of what we find in various studies, we know the initiator or inventor of touch is and always will be our God. He is the one who created us this way. So, my question is, why aren’t we reaching out to Him more and more, especially in today’s world?
Let’s take a look at Mark 5: 21-43, keeping these thoughts about touch in our mind.
“Mark 5: 21-43 When Yeshua had crossed over in the boat again to the other side, a big crowd gathered around Him; and He was by the sea. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, comes. Seeing Him, he falls at His feet. 23 He begs Him a great deal, saying, “My little daughter is near death! Come and lay hands on her so that she may be healed and live!”24 So Yeshua went off with him, and a big crowd was following Him and pressing upon Him. 25 And there was a woman with a blood flow for twelve years,[a]26 who had suffered much under many doctors. She had spent all that she had without benefit; instead, she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Yeshua, she came through the crowd from behind and touched His garment.28 For she kept saying, “If I touch even His clothes, I shall be healed.”29 Right away the blood flow stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her disease. 30 At once Yeshua, knowing in Himself that power had gone out from Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”31 His disciples responded, “You see the crowd pressing upon You and you say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this.33 But the woman, scared and shaking, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in shalom and be healed from your disease.”35 While Yeshua was still speaking, messengers come from the house of the synagogue leader, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why do you still trouble the Teacher?”36 But ignoring what they said, Yeshua tells the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow Him except Peter, Jacob, and John, the brother of Jacob.38 They come to the house of the synagogue leader. He sees a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 After entering, He said to them, “Why make such a fuss and weep? The child didn’t die, but is sleeping.”40 They start jeering at Him. But after sending all of them out, He takes the child’s father and mother, and those with Him, and enters where the child was. 41 Then, taking hold ofthe child’s hand, He tells her, “Talitha koum,”[b] which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” 42 Immediately, the girl stood up and began to walk around! (She was twelve years old.) And they were overcome with astonishment. 43 But He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said something to eat should be given to her.” TLV (bold emphasis mine)
In this passage, verse 23 speaks of a Synagogue Leader who had heard of Yeshua and His miracles. We don’t know if he was a Believer or not, but we do know that because of Yeshua’s reputation, this father, whose daughter was dying, took a chance and had faith to believe in the miracles he had heard about.
Much like the story of Lazarus, Yeshua did not rush to get to the girl because he knew she would be healed and would rise up. Like Lazarus, the little girl had no faith because she was dead. But her father believed without a doubt. Yeshua was his hope. He believed in the laying on of hands! Later we see that it seemed too late. Word came to Yeshua that the daughter died. Even then, Yeshua continued because He knew that God would be glorified through the healing. First, Yeshua put out all the naysayers, and when He went in, the first thing he did was take her hand and commanded her to get up! She did and was instantly restored. WOW!
On the way to the house, in verse 27, the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched Yeshua’s garment. She had the faith to know that she would be healed if she could just touch Him. Once she touched His garment, Scripture says she felt the blood flow stop, and immediately Yeshua knew healing power went out of Him.
WOW! Her story had a purpose. Her faith was more valuable and did more for her than all the money she spent trying to get cured. And again, Yeshua’s reputation spread throughout the region, and people knew there were miracles for them too. Glory!
Yeshua healed many ways in the Bible. The healings had the same results, but the methods varied. He did not always touch a person. At times a person touched Him. Sometimes he commanded the healing, and other times he commanded an act. Whatever the method, I believe they were all written down for us for a reason.
Luke 6:19 Everyone in the crowd was trying to touch Him, because power flowed from Him and He was healing them all. TLV
1 Kings 17:21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” TLV
2 Kings 4:34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. TLV
Mark 8:23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” TLV
Mark 6:5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. TLV
Luke 6:17-19 Yeshua came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all. TLV
Mark 6:54-56 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Yeshua. They ran about the region and began to carry around on their mats all who were in bad shape, to wherever they heard He was. And whenever He entered villages, towns, or countryside, people were placing the sick in the marketplaces and begging Him to let them touch even the tzitzit of his garment- and all who touched it were being healed.
I think these various examples of healing were to show us His sovereignty and that we should not limit Him with preconceptions. Just like Yeshua should not be put in a box, neither should any method He chooses to use to heal us. But there is only one God, and through Him comes all healing. The process may vary, but God never varies.
I could fill many pages with Scriptures that show how strongly Yeshua proves the power of His touch.
Like human touch, we also NEED human interaction and to be connected to a church community. That’s why it’s not a good idea to be isolated. I think this point has been proven even more since COVID came on the scene. We were formed by a Creator who values touch. Let us remember that connecting with others allows us to touch them with His love—it’s not just any touch—it’s His touch.
Think about this teaching and let it penetrate your spirit. Let the power of the touch of Yeshua surround you!
Prayer:
Father, in the name of Yeshua, I pray for everyone who reads this that they would believe in the power of your healing touch, that the first reaction would be to call upon the name of Yeshua in any and all situations and they would see miracles, signs, and wonders for themselves, families, friends, coworkers and the world. Yeshua, touch me, and I will never be the same. Amen.
Blessings to you with love,
Joyce
[i] Hands On Research: The Science of Touch (berkeley.edu)https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research
All scripture references in this study are from Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.