No Untouchables

February 14

(Luke 5:13 NIV) ““Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.””

(Matthew 9:18-25 NIV) ““While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." {19} Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. {20} Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. {21} She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." {22} Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. {23} When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, {24} he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. {25} After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.””

Before Jesus ever spoke to the leper, He did the unthinkable -- He reached out His hand and touched him. This would have shocked the leper, the disciples, and any others around Jesus that day. No one touched a leper. Jesus broke all the established religious rules when He showed kindness and compassion to this outcast. This was grace in action, freely given to an untouchable. Many others would eventually be healed and restored by a touch from the Great Physician. We untouchables still need His touch. We still desperately need God’s grace. When sin has crippled us and all our meaningful relationships have been destroyed, we need a touch from Jesus. When we are at our worst and cut off from everyone we love, Christ comes to us and loves us. He is willing to touch us and cleanse us. He is willing and able to forgive our sins. There are no untouchables with Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day