Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The Compassionate Touch of Jesus that Sanctifies
Bible portion Mathew 8: 1- 4“He stretched out his hands and touched him, ….” Vs. 3
Devotional Text
The gospel writer St. Mathew portrays Jesus Christ as a great preacher through the Sermon on the Mount (Ch 5, 6 & 7). In today’s passage as well as in chapters 8 & 9, Jesus is depicted as a healer and wonder worker. The writer displays a continuum here, i.e., both the word and deed of Jesus Christ are interconnected. Jesus is not only a preacher but a doer also. He is a person who walked the talk, i.e., both powerful in word and deed. It is a call and a challenge to today’s Christians to imbibe this balanced approach.
The sequential order through which Jesus engages in this healing act is fascinating. He stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and expressed his willingness to heal. Even though he planned to heal the leper, he restructured the entire act. He touches him first to break the social stigma that was engraved in society and then proceeds to provide the healing touch. Thus, Jesus touches both the hearts of the leper and the society. There is a continuum, i.e., the interconnectedness of both individuals and society. Both are structuring structure and structured structure which needs the divine touch.
Jesus warns the leper to go to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded and then present himself as a testimony to the leaders. Through this response Jesus tries to emphasize that the power of his authority and the fulfillment of his messiahship is not devoid of Old Testament but through it. Jesus’ touch not only healed the leper but he touched the hearts of those who interpret the holy scripture. He didn’t want the laws of Moses as a dividing factor but as a divine matter.
Prayer
Almighty God touch us with your divine touch, heal us, and make us the channels of healing touch. Amen
BRev. John G. Mathews
Vicar , Trinity Mar Thoma Church, Thiruvanandapuram
The gospel writer St. Mathew portrays Jesus Christ as a great preacher through the Sermon on the Mount (Ch 5, 6 & 7). In today’s passage as well as in chapters 8 & 9, Jesus is depicted as a healer and wonder worker. The writer displays a continuum here, i.e., both the word and deed of Jesus Christ are interconnected. Jesus is not only a preacher but a doer also. He is a person who walked the talk, i.e., both powerful in word and deed. It is a call and a challenge to today’s Christians to imbibe this balanced approach.
The sequential order through which Jesus engages in this healing act is fascinating. He stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and expressed his willingness to heal. Even though he planned to heal the leper, he restructured the entire act. He touches him first to break the social stigma that was engraved in society and then proceeds to provide the healing touch. Thus, Jesus touches both the hearts of the leper and the society. There is a continuum, i.e., the interconnectedness of both individuals and society. Both are structuring structure and structured structure which needs the divine touch.
Jesus warns the leper to go to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded and then present himself as a testimony to the leaders. Through this response Jesus tries to emphasize that the power of his authority and the fulfillment of his messiahship is not devoid of Old Testament but through it. Jesus’ touch not only healed the leper but he touched the hearts of those who interpret the holy scripture. He didn’t want the laws of Moses as a dividing factor but as a divine matter.
Prayer
Almighty God touch us with your divine touch, heal us, and make us the channels of healing touch. Amen
BRev. John G. Mathews
Vicar , Trinity Mar Thoma Church, Thiruvanandapuram