Hungry for God: Just a Touch

“And wherever He came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment. And as many as touched it were made well.”—Mark 6:56 

Jesus is not the God who is afar off, but the God who came near. The God who came to visit humanity—to experience the fullness of the human condition—to undergo suffering, to feel hunger, thirst, isolation, and loneliness. He experienced it all.

There are some in the world who believe that God is aloof, disconnected from our sufferings, sicknesses, and the difficult situations we face on a day by day basis, but that’s not the picture the Bible presents. The Bible presents one who is all-to-intimately acquainted with our suffering, He goes to the villages, cities, and countryside, making Himself available to any and all who would come to Him in faith—believing that He was able to heal them. Their faith was so great, that they believed if they could just touch the fringe of His garment. They didn’t have to grasp His foot or hand, didn’t have to have Him pray over them, or touch them—if they could just…get…a…touch. We can imagine them, stretching out, desperate. Anchored to their situation by their illness or sickness, unable to move, unable to change—their hands are stretched out in expectation as He comes closer—just…a…touch…ah-ha!!!!! A miracle!

We can only imagine as He is walking by, numerous sick and disabled sitting on the ground with hands stretched out to Him, and we can see that one by one, each hand that touches that garment, there is accompanying it a shout of triumph, a relief from suffering, a rescue from sorrow. There is laughter, accompanied by holy astonishment as feet that had been hanging limp and thin, suddenly became alive and healthy. Men and women, no longer cemented to their seats, are able to walk, talk, see, shout, jump, hug, and cry tears of joy as their lives are transformed by the healing touch of a hopeful believer.

How about you, beloved? Is your faith great enough to believe in just touching the fringe of His garment? As many as touched Jesus were made well, and though we cannot physically touch Him now, we can call out in faith, and He will heal us. He may or may not heal us of our infirmity. He may heal our bodies or He may heal our hearts, giving us grace to testify to His greatness in the miss of our suffering. May God enable us all to call out in faith, expectantly hoping for His healing of our hurts and our hearts, for His glory and our joy. Amen.