Hands to touch
We can feel with our hands and indeed with many parts of our body because of our nervous system.
When babies grow up they learn to explore their senses – particularly with touch. Different textures feel different when we touch them. Some textures are rough, soft, fluffy, smooth, bumpy, sharp… the list goes on.
To touch something, we know it’s there. Where we might be fooled by a mirage or be able to hear a sound but not see what it is, touch assures us that something is really there.
Jesus was really human
When the Lord Jesus came live amongst us, he wasn’t just a spirit moving about. He was really human – and people could touch him. People would come up to him, just to touch the hem of his garment to be healed.
The disciples really spent time with him, they witnessed him with all their senses and John (the apostle/disciple) writes as an introduction to his book.
1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
They saw Jesus, they heard what Jesus said, they touched him – the physical Jesus, both before he died on the cross and afterwards as confirmation that he had risen.
Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds to believe that he had risen.
Jesus could be touched – he was fully human and fully God. Having the power to heal other’s broken senses, often by touching them or saying a word.
Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Luke 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
Mark 7:33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue.
Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Doing good with our hands
See how Jesus heals other people’s broken senses by touching them. And he shows us an example of using our hands (used to touch) to serve and care for others.
John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.