In the beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis it tells us of a close and personal and intimate relationship that Adam and Eve shared with God. God would make Himself known to them in the cool of the day or the evening time. What an awesome time of fellowship that must have been when almighty God was making himself known to mankind.
God planted a garden, the Garden of Eden, for Adam and Eve to dwell in. He provided for them everything that they needed. The only thing that they were not to do was eat of the fruit of the tree that was in the middle of the garden. It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Only “ONE THING” they were not to do but they touched the tree and then they ate of the fruit of that tree.
After that instance Adam and Eve find themselves hiding from the presence of God. They hear the sound of God walking towards them in the cool of the day and they hide themselves.
ß What was once a wonderful relationship was now ruined.
ß What was once a beautiful time of fellowship was now destroyed.
ß What was once a great friendship being developed was now damaged.
From that point on the relationship with God seemed to be impersonal.
ß There were so many laws to follow. (Over 600 laws)
ß There were so many rules to obey.
ß There were so many regulations to comply with.
ß There were so many things that they could not touch.
Throughout the pages of the Old Testament God seems to be a distant friend. He is a God that we cannot see with our eyes. He is a God that is in the Heavens while we exist down here on earth. No one can, it seems, touch him for themselves.
There were sporadic times recorded in the Old Testament where an individual had a special encounter with God but for most people he was a long way off.
The people would come once a year and offer their sins to someone else and then that high priest would take their sins to the Holy of Holies so they could be pushed back for another year and for another year they would have mercy. They were never totally wiped away but just pushed ahead. It was so impersonal and so distant that it seemed like the blood of bulls and goats got closer to God then the people did. The only ones that came in contact with the presence of God was the high priest when the glory of the Lord settled down on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.
The only real hope that things would ever change was the prophecy that there was going to one day come a Messiah. One day there was coming to this world a savior that would take away the sins of the world.
I am thankful today that I know that he did come to this world. The angels one day declared his arrival.
Luke 2:10-14
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The prophecy was from Isaiah that thou shall call his name Immanuel which is being interpreted “God with us.”
The writer of Hebrews had this to say about Immanuel – God with us:
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
ß No longer was he a God that was way up in the heavens somewhere.
ß No longer was he a God that was impersonal.
ß No longer was he a God that was distant.
ß No longer was he a God that could not be touched.
But that day in Bethlehem he burst on the scene longing for and crying out for somebody to touch him!
I have good news for you today and that is that God is still walking on this earth today. As a matter of fact he is here right now. The devil thought he killed him one day but the fact is:
ß I feel him in my hands
ß I feel him in my feet
ß I feel him in my heart
ß I feel him all over me
God’s not dead he is alive. He is here right now and he is wanting for someone to in faith reach out and touch him. He is as close as the mention of his name.
He is still able to:
ß Heal your body
ß Mend your broken heart
ß Fix your messed up life
ß Put your marriage back together
ß Save your children
ß Work on your behalf
ß Make the impossible situations of your life possible
He can do it if you touch him today!
But there is a big difference between thronging and touching.
Thronging means to crowd into or to crowd upon; to press or pack into; to crowd together in great numbers.
(this is much like when ladies go shopping at Wal-mart)
There is a difference between thronging and touching. The Bible tells us a story of a man that we refer to as the rich young ruler.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Lets look at this account and see whether or not this young man touched Jesus or just thronged around him.
The first thing that I notice about this man was he is:
1. Dissatisfied – vs. 17-20
a) He came running
b) He kept the law but was not happy
c) Something was still missing
(So many people that we come in contact with are unhappy with their life.)
The second thing that I notice is this man is:
2. Disappointed – vs. 21-22
a) Terms were
ß Go and sell
ß Commitment to follow
b) Tragedy
ß So close to Jesus
ß Went away sorrowful without touching
The third thing that I notice is he was:
3. Denied
a) In the present – life of joy and peace
b) Future – eternal life; a life in Heaven
This is a man that never really touched Jesus. Oh sure he might have shaken his hand or patted him on the shoulder but he never really touched Jesus. He never took the time to have a relationship with Jesus.
(Many people know how to play the part in church but never touch Jesus)
In our Bible text, Mark 5:24-34, it tells us the story of the woman with the issue of blood
1. Distressed – vs. 25-26
a) 12 years of suffering, sickness, pain, discomfort. But that was not all because according to the laws of her day a woman with her sickness:
ß Sexually – she could not touch her husband
ß Maternally – no longer could bear children
ß Domestically – anything she touched was considered unclean; couldn’t take care of her family
ß Socially – considered unclean
ß Spiritually – was not allowed in the temple
She was physically exhausted and socially ostracized.
b) Tried many different doctors
ß Talmud gives 11 different cures for her condition. One of them was carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen cloth.
c) She was broke – spent all that she had
d) She was getting worse
2. Determined – vs. 27-28
a) Heard about Jesus
ß If he could do it for them he can do it for me
b) Faith in her heart
c) Went to where he was
ß I’m not going to wait for Jesus to come to me but I’m going to touch him
d) She touched him
STAND
3. She was delivered
a) Instantly healed
b) God recognizes a touch of faith
Many people were in the crowd that day that probably had needs just like this lady but she was delivered because she touched Jesus.
There is a difference between thronging and touching.
Faith always touches Jesus. He knows the difference between the jostle of a curious crowd and the touch of faith of a soul in need.
But you have to touch him. He is here today but it is our job to touch him.
Jesus was on his way to an important mans house. What are the odds that Jesus is ever going to stop by and touch this lady - not very good. But she touched him.
Jesus is here right now. No matter what your condition is you can touch him.
