Reach Out and Touch Someone
In the 1980's AT&T had a jingle, "Reach Out And Touch Someone." My, how times have changed. I was thinking how people are scared to touch anyone or anything. If you drop food off to someone with COVID, you put the food on the porch, and then after you leave, they come out and get it. Instead of hugging someone and thanking them, you wave through the door. I had this on my mind Sunday when Pine Valley United Methodist Church’s Pastor Tim said, “It’s Heart Checking, Burden Bearing, Grace Living Time.”
I thought about the leper, and it broke my heart thinking about his isolation. This man began to have sores on his body, more and more. Luke 5:12, "And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus..." He had to leave his family, his home, his work and go live with other lepers. He had to leave everything he knew and loved, not for a short while, but for the rest of his life. There was no cure, so he would never be able to comfort his crying wife, hug his children or provide for them. His family could bring him food every day but not get close. They would leave it at a certain place, and when they left, he could pick it up. According to Jewish law, Leviticus 13:45 tells us, "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face..." And the worse part to me is the rest of that verse, "...and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’" Although I know the physical damage of leprosy is horrible, I think the mental and emotional damage would be the worst!
One day the leper saw a small group of people following a man who was teaching them. He heard the name "Jesus" and wanted to hear this teacher. As Jesus and the men got closer, he knew what the law told him to do. He yelled, "Unclean! Unclean! Stay away from me! I have leprosy!" Jesus kept getting closer, and the man shouted, "Unclean" louder! He began to cover himself and hobble away, but Jesus was so close he could look into His eyes. He didn’t see fear, rejection, or judgment. He saw love! Wonder how long it had been since he saw love in someone's eyes? And I bet that was the moment he fell down. Luke 5:12, "While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'” The NKJV reads, "And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Implored is more than a request. It is pleading and begging. Luke 5:13, "Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him."
Jesus could have healed the man without touching him. He could have spoken healing. I believe Jesus knew this leper needed love as much as healing. Wonder how long it had been since he had had human touch? Jesus reached out and touched the man with compassion. I learned there was another reason Jesus showed love. He had just told four disciples that he would teach them how to be fishers of men. Maybe this was the first lesson. You have to love men to catch them. Look past the scars and rotting flesh and love them.
During this time of social distancing, God still shows us ways to reach out and touch someone. As Pastor Tim reminded us Sunday, we, too, must show Christian love. “If we find ourselves letting our political ideology, our personal preferences, or our own pleasures come before our love for one another, then we are on the wrong road.” If God can use Cain and Able, He can use us! We are our brother’s keeper, and they need our love! If we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we must reach out and touch someone!