Touch can heal. If we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we can clearly see that touch was important to him and almost necessary to the healing process.
Jesus touched the following people:
| A man with leprosy in a city in Galilee- Matthew 8:2-3 | |
| Peter’s mother in law in Capernaum- Mark 1:30-31 | |
| Many people in a crowd in Capernaum- Luke 4:40 | |
| A 12 year old girl in Capernaum- Luke 8:54055 | |
| Two blind men in Capernaum- Matthew 9:29 | |
| A few people in Nazareth- Mark 6:4-6 | |
| A man who was deaf and could hardly talk in the Decapolis- Mark 7:32-35 | |
| A blind man just outside Bethsaida- Mark 8:22-25 | |
| A blind man in Jerusalem- John 9:1, 6-7 | |
| In a synagogue, a woman who could not stand straight- Luke 13:11-13 | |
| Two blind men near Jericho- Matthew 20:30-34 | |
| A servant of the high priest whose ear Peter had cut off in the garden of Gethsemane- Luke 22:50-51 |
There are also two cases where touch occurred very close to the time of the healing:
| Raising the young son of a widow- Luke 7:14-15 | ||||
| Healing a young boy- Mark 9:25-27 |
And finally the reverse: people who touched Jesus or his clothes to be healed:
A woman with the issue of blood- Matthew 9:20-22
Crowds in various towns- Mark 6:54-56
I think it is more than evident that touch is powerful. Touch is multifaceted to say the least. Touch can bring healing like we have already seen. Touch can be cleansing... think of a mother and a child. How many times a day do noses get wiped, hands get washed, faces cleaned off? Touch can be quieting. In the midst of a meltdown a hug can quiet the sobs of a heartbroken individual. Touch can be illuminating. It can show care and compassion. Touch can be reassuring, or freeing. I guess I shouldn't be so against hugs after all.
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