Jesus' Touch (Post 3)

Our man Peter has become to be a true "disciple" of Jesus.  That means that he has left his occupation to be with the Rabbi 24 hours of every day - to walk with him, to listen to him, to "follow" him.  Today, think about Peter being with Jesus in the encounters we will read.  How would you have reacted?  What would you have thought?

Read Luke 8: 40 - 56

The contrasts between these two people are remarkable.  

     Person #1:  Jairus was his name - leader in the local Synagogue.  That meant a Jewish man who was welcomed everywhere in Capernaum.  That also meant he was in the upper echelon of the society of the town.  He had means.  Important person.

     Person #2:  woman - unnamed - unclean for 12 years.  Leviticus 15 informs us that a woman was considered "unclean" during her monthly flow of blood.  And there was ceremonial cleansing that she must go through to be considered "clean" again.  She could not be touched - nor could she touch - anyone during her time of "uncleanness".  That meant that this woman had not been able to go to Synagogue for TWELVE YEARS!  That meant that she had not been "touched" for TWELVE YEARS!  Shunned from society.  Marginalized.  Insignificant.

Two people - both desperate - both seeking out Jesus.  One seeks openly - well, he could.  He mattered.  The other was stealthily - secretive - well, she had to.  She was untouchable.  Peter was aware of both.  Peter watched Jesus handle both.  I wonder what was in his mind.

Some observations from these two encounters:

First, notice Peter's relationship with Jesus that is depicted by his response to Jesus' question, "Who touched me?"  His response is even a little 'snarky'!  It's as if he was saying, "Are you kidding me?  The better question would be who didn't touch you.  The crowd is pressing us all around.  Lots of people are touching you!"   I like the comfortableness that we see in Peter's response to Jesus.  Peter is "at home" with Him.  And he felt perfectly at ease to say what went through his mind.  There is no disrespect - just honesty.  Are you that open with Jesus when you pray?   Or do you feel that you cannot be yourself - that you have to put on some kind of persona that, in your mind, is more "spiritual"?  Peter could be himself with Jesus.  I want that kind of relationship with the Lord.  

Second, notice the courage of this woman.  She most likely had been shunned for all these many years.  It took incredible courage to push her way into this crowd.  Had someone spotted her - known her story - they could legally begin to shout, "Unclean!  Unclean!", pointing her out and adding another layer to her shame.  Courage - do you need a dose today?  What are you facing - perhaps that you have dealt with for years - where you need the courage to honestly take the situation to the Lord?  Reach out to Jesus - touch Him.  

Third, Jesus called Jairus' daughter "asleep" while the world called her "dead".  So he told the mourners to stop the weeping and wailing.  This is not a condemnation of grief - of tears over loss.  Even Jesus wept when he witnessed the sadness over the death of his friend, Lazarus.  This was something else.  Perhaps this was his way of telling us that there is no reason to "wail" when one is merely asleep.  We have to remember that when we face the death of beloved ones - ones who belong to God - ones who walked with Him.  Always remember the words of Paul that echo Jesus.  In 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 18:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in  Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.  (NIV)

Paul knew it ... Peter learned it at the bedside of this young girl ... do you know it?  There are tears over loss and sadness ... but there is weeping and wailing when there is no hope.  To which group do you belong?