When you live in the mountains as I do you are bound to hear some people slaughter the English language. I have heard someone say they liked “modren” furniture. Of course they meant modern furniture. One day someone said the transaction fell out of their car. I don’t know what they meant by that. Someone told me that they heard someone say that some of their family had a touch of the “smilin’ mighty Jesus.” What they really meant was spinal meningitis.
It is funny to hear some people talk but it got me to thinking. Who doesn’t need a touch of the smilin’ mighty Jesus? Let’s look at some Scriptures where Jesus touched some people or where people touched Him:
“Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:3 NKJV)
“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.” (Matthew 8:14-15 NKJV)
“Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, ‘See that no one knows it.'” (Matthew 9:29-30 NKJV)
“They said to Him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’ So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” (Matthew 20:33-34 NKJV)
“Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.” (Mark 7:32-35 NKJV)
“Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.” (Mark 8:22-25 NKJV)
“And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:11-13 NKJV)
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.” (Matthew 9:20-22 NKJV)
“Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” (Mark 6:56 NKJV)
In these verses we se a variety of physical ailments that Jesus healed. Do you have a physical ailment? Do you need to be cleansed of your sin like the leper cleansed of his leprosy? Do you have some emotional problems or stress or something else that makes you feel like the woman who was bent over? Do you have some spiritual blindness that keeps you from seeing all that Jesus Christ wants you to see in him and his Word? Are you spiritually deaf that you cannot hear the Lord speaking to you? Do you have a stammering tongue when he wants you to speak out and witness for Him?
Jesus Christ can and is willing to take care of these if you ask Him to. Some reached out to Him and were healed. Call on Jesus or reach out to Him. He is right there waiting for you to call or reach out. Like one of the blind men it may take more than one touch so don’t give up. Keep asking and reaching out. Then you will get a touch of the Smilin’ Mighty Jesus!
Dean W. Masters
Unedited redistribution approved