Why did Yeshua/Jesus touch people?
What made Him touch them?
touch
נגע
Strong’s Hebrew: 5060.
נָגַע (naga) — to touch, reach, strike
A primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. Lay the hand upon
First of course, He did what His Father told Him
Yeshua/Jesus always obeyed His Father, but it was not by routine actions devoid of feeling and concern . Yeshua/Jesus cared deeply for the people and all the situations around Him.
In other words, Yeshua/Jesus being moved with compassion was an expression of His Father. Surely, our Heavenly Father ‘feels’ things as deeply as Yeshua/Jesus.
There was a force within Him that was able to alter the elements of reality around Him and effect changes in the lives of the multitudes that followed Him.
Matthew 9:36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 14:14. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Mark 8:2-3 “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be cleansed. Luke 7:13.
Matt 20:34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.
When we read in Scripture that Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion; it was a deeply heart-felt reaction to any given situation that led to an action. When confronted with the evidence that satan had deceived people, and kept them in sickness and oppressed them. He reacted with help, to undo the wrong, to set people free.
In different situations the scripture records Yeshua/Jesus was “moved with compassion.” In other versions it is sometimes translated as
take pity, Indignant, and heart went out to….
However they fall short of the Greek meaning.
“Moved with compassion”
is more than feeling pity or sympathy for someone. This word means a feeling that comes out of the innermost being.
It is that gut-wrenching, feeling we get in the pit-of-the-stomach when something really bad happens or we believe that it is going to happen.in the bowels hence the saying bowels of compassion. Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, however, it is not a feeling of powerlessness.
At those times when Yeshua/Jesus was moved with compassion, He did something, a physical action followed; whether it was casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick or teaching about the gospel of the kingdom of the heavens in order to bring people out of ignorance about their Heavenly Father and His ways.
True compassion involves resistance to the wrong and why some translate it as “indignant” and includes action to correct it or, at least, bring comfort through it.
In our own pain we need to look on others not in pity or with sympathy for what they are going through, but be moved with compassion. We need to become the hand of Yeshua/Jesus in ministering to them. They need to look into our eyes and see the love and compassion of the infinitely caring God looking back at them through us.
in Matthew 20 where Yeshua/Jesus asked two blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him” Matthew 20.32-34.
In Mark we are told about a man with leprosy who “came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed.” The man said, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
Again, Scripture reports,
“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed” (see Mark 1.40-42).
There are other similar occurrences in Scripture. Each time Yeshua/Jesus feeds the multitudes, we’re told,
Yeshua/Jesus “had compassion on them”
(e.g., Mark 6.34; Mark 8.2; Matthew 14.14).
Often, when Yeshua/Jesus saw crowds of people who seemed lost, He was moved with compassion.
His compassion always leads to action
whether healing, feeding, providing.
Compassion
Strong’s Hebrew: 7356. רָ֫חַם (racham) — compassion
The three Hebrew Letters are Reysh, Chet and Mem.
This is compassion and it has been said that all women have more of this gift of compassion, not only mothers.
Ra-chem, (give or have mercy)
is the imperative form
(commanding or requesting something from others).
The imperative form is considered an actual tense in Hebrew, in additional to past, present and future.
Example of ra-chem (verb):
The sound cha in ra-cha-mim is pronounced like
the Spanish ja in the word Jalapeño.
Ra-cha-min is a noun, but it can also be used as a verb, as it often happens in prayer. When it is a verb: ra-chem for have mercy.
Mercy, compassion, womb – רַחֲמִים
It is quite fascinating that mercy or compassion, nra-cha-min, is derived from the name of the most motherly place in the human body: the womb, re-chem.
This is where the strongest connection of compassion and love are bonded between the mother and the baby, respectively. Men may need to learn this, if you are a mother, you will have experienced this compassion first hand.
This connection has been referenced in previous posts and although it is generally understood that our faith is in Gods ability and must be present to heal; there are many scriptures where the word compassion is used as a precursor to the power for healing being manifested or miracles taking place.
Some examples referenced below:
Jesus was moved with compassion, Matt. 9:36 (Matt. 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13). A certain Samaritan had compassion on him, Luke 10:33.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Mark 6:34 – And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Colossians 3:12-13 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
James 5:11
Rom. 9:15 2; Cor. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:1-3; Matt. 9:35-38; Matt. 20:29-34; Matt. 14:13-21; Matt. 15;29-39; Mark. 6:30-44; Luke. 15:11-32.
Compassion seems to be a spiritual force that moved Yeshua/Jesus to action and without that action it is simply observation and sympathy.
In the Torah there are clear guidelines that anyone touching a leper would be unclean
Did Yeshua/Jesus give evidence of His deity because He cleansed the leper and the leper did not make Him unclean or did it?
In reading scripture during the course of study there are differing opinions as to the meaning of this as concerns Messiah the options follow so the reader can draw their own conclusions.
This story which most people are familiar with. On one of His return visits to the Galilee, Yeshua encounters a leper who begs for healing. Yeshua, being filled with compassion, touches the leper and he is healed instantly. However, there is more going on in this incident than what lies on the surface.
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:40-44)
It is important to take a look at leprosy from a biblical perspective. The typical mental image is of a debilitating disease which leaves a person scarred and disfigured, with missing fingers and toes.
This seems to be a misrepresentation being forced onto the Scriptures due to the use of the English word, leprosy.
Biblical leprosy is known as tzara’at (צרעת)
and has no relation to modern leprosy, otherwise known as Hansen’s Disease. which is a bacterial infection affecting the skin and the nervous system,
biblical leprosy tzara’at involves none of these symptoms.
The parameters of tzara’at can be found in Leviticus 13 and 14. In the introduction to Leviticus 13, most Bibles will have a footnote saying something to the effect of,
Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases.
The text,says that tzara’at was very specific in its identification and had to meet certain criteria before it could be labeled tzara’at by the cohen (priest) NOTE: not a doctor/physician.
Also, we find that not only is it associated with a skin condition, but it can also be a type of mildew-like substance that can appear on the walls of a house (Lev. 14:33-53), or in fabric or in leather-goods (Lev. 13:47-59).
Other distinguishing factors of biblical tzara’at are its severity and transmission. According to the biblical texts, tzara’at does not transmit physical ailment akin to Hansen’s Disease. It does, however, transmit ritual impurity (making one “unclean”).
“A person or object in contact with a leper becomes both unclean and contaminating.”
What does this mean?
It means an ostracizing of the metzora (a “leper” in biblical terms).
In other words, when one has been diagnosed as being a metzora, one must remove himself from the community so as not to “infect” others
The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. (Lev. 13:45-46)
leper מצורע
lazar. lā′zar, לזר
one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.
Strong’s Hebrew: 6883. צָרָ֫עַת (tsaraath) — leprosy
Strong’s Hebrew: 6879. צָרַע (tsara) — to be struck with …
The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew Bible originally used by Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile proselytes, translates the term tzaraath with Greek lepra (λέπρα), from which the cognate “leprosy” (a term now referring specifically to the bacterial infection aforementioned as Hansen’s disease) was traditionally used in English Bibles.
Although this seems like a harsh treatment for someone who has a non-life-threatening, semi-communicable impurity (and not a disease, per se), one must remember that this command was given while the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness and encamped together in close quarters.
Any contact (intentional or not) with other people or objects would immediately transfer ritual impurity to the person or object, thus rendering them tamei (טמא) as well.
This contact with ritual impurity would make these individuals unable to participate in communal worship and the sacrificial system. In order for this to be contained, the priesthood was commissioned with identifying and quarantining outbreaks of tzara’at.
A metzora had to undergo routine inspections to monitor the condition of their infection.
We have to keep in mind, however, that ritual impurity (being “unclean”) is in no way equivalent to sin.
Remembering that the definition in Torah of being unclean, was not the same as committing a sin!
Being “unclean” was part of the routine of life during the days when the Tabernacle or the Temple were standing. Women became ritually impure during their monthly cycle or during childbirth. Both men and women became unclean with any kind of bodily emission.
Tzara’at, however, was one of the most severe cases of ritual impurity, even surpassing corpse contamination, since one was only able to be purified on the condition the symptoms had vanished.
Once the symptoms were completely gone an elaborate series of sin offerings, sprinklings, immersions similar to the purification rituals of corpse contamination were required in order to be declared officially clean (“ritually pure”).
The only way sin would be connected to impurity is if an unclean person entered the Holy Temple. They would be guilty of defiling the earthly abode of the Almighty and be held liable.
There is, however, an odd condition in regard to tzara’at which makes its spiritual / ritual nature explicit. Once a metzora was completely consumed with tzara’at, and covered from head to foot and has turned completely white, he was pronounced tahor (טהור) clean / ritually pure and was free from his quarantine (Lev. 13:12-13).
Once new skin began replacing the infection, however, he was quarantined once again and the entire inspection cycle was begun anew.
There was no known cure for tzara’at. The priesthood did not affect the affliction, but only diagnosed it.
Based on several inferences in Scriptural, there are seven sins for which one may be afflicted with leprosy: slander, the shedding of blood, vain oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy.
The word metzora as a compound word comprised of the words “motzi [shem] ra”
this means one who “brings forth [an] evil [name].”
In other words, a leper is one who spreads gossip and slander. The sages viewed evil speech as so damaging that they interpreted slander to be one of the most grave sins:
If this is the case, it is interesting to note that this is one of the few instances in which Yeshua did not also tell the one he was healing that his sins were forgiven. Why? Because sins committed against God can be pardoned by either God or His earthly agent. However, the only way sins committed against another living human being can be pardoned is from the one whom we have wronged (Matt 5:23-24; John 20:23).
After considering the details of tzara’at, returning to the passage in which Yeshua encounters the metzora, a man who has contracted biblical leprosy. The man requests one thing of Yeshua.
“If you will, you can make me clean” (v. 40).
Notice his request was not healing, but purity.
This is an especially important aspect to the story now weve learned what Leviticus says in regards to tzara’at.
The man must have had advanced stages of tzara’at, because Luke 5:12 describes him as one who was full of leprosy. However, it is reasonable to say that he could not have been completely covered Leviticus 13:12-13 or he would have been considered tahor, ritually pure/clean. If he was already clean/ritually pure, then why would he have need of Yeshua’s touch to make him clean/ritually pure?
With this in mind, this man was still a legitimate metzora and brought uncleanness/ritual impurity upon anyone touching him.
Some teach that although Jesus/Yeshua touched the metzora, He did not become unclean and proved His Divinity.
However, if that is correct and Yeshua could not contract ritual impurity, then He was not truly human?
Scripture says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
He was not merely human in appearance, but human in every regard.
If we think now with a Hebrew mind would it be true to say thta being in an unclean state was not a new experience for Yeshua? He would have no doubt dealt with this numerous times in His life. Examples being: the woman with the hemorrhage who touched Him; and then He went on to touch Jairus’ dead daughter raising her to life.
Also the raising of the widows son in Nain.
Remember, being ritually unclean is NOT the same as sinning.
His identification with humanity through taking upon Himself flesh and blood allowed for Yeshua/Jesus to truly identify with the temptations and the sufferings of mankind.
Mark tells us that Yeshua was
moved with pity, and therefore “stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.’”
Called the Leper Messiah by the Rabbis in Accordance to Isaiah 53:4‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted.’
Yeshua used this understanding as evidence that He was indeed the long-awaited Messiah when questioned by the disciples of John the Immerser:
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed
and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5)
Did He became the Leper Messiah for our sake, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows by intentionally touching the lepers and taking upon himself their afflictions? His skin did not break out in white scabs. However, it seems He did become unclean/ritually impure for the sake of this man. Rather than speaking a word of healing and remaining clean / ritually pure, His compassion and empathy prompted His hand to reach out and touch the impurity of another.
Yeshua not only understood this and demonstrated this, but taught hHs disciples to do likewise by telling them,
Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers,
cast out demons (Matthew 10:8)
With the healing of the leper, Yeshua sends the man away with a mission:
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them” (Mark 1:44).
In doing so, Yeshua was commanding the man to travel to Jerusalem (a 2/3 day journey from the Galilee) to be inspected by the priesthood in the Temple. Once he was seen and declared clean, he was to offer up “what Moses commanded” for the purification of a metzora (from Leviticus 14).
This included:
Two live clean birds for purification ceremony
One male lamb for a guilt offering
One female lamb for a sin offering
One male lamb for a burnt offering
Flour and oil for grain offerings
Reading Yeshua’s instructions to this man, it raises some questions
One, if he is already clean, why does he need to show himself to the priesthood and undergo the purification rituals?
This involves an issue of obedience to Torah. Although the man has already been purified, he still needs to be declared clean by the administrating priesthood according to Leviticus 14:1-32. Without the declaration from the priesthood, the man would not be allowed admittance back into his community (or any Jewish community for that matter). Also, to refuse to do so would have been a direct violation of the Torah. In other words, he would have been sinning. By telling the man to show himself to the priesthood, Yeshua upheld the command of Torah which tells the proper procedure for declaring a metzora to be clean
Two, main stream Christianity usually teaches that Yeshua came to do away with the Temple, the priesthood and the sacrificial system/law and that we are under grace alone. so why would Yeshua/Jesus give the man specific instructions to “offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded?”
This involves the priesthood and the sacrificial system. By having the man show himself to the priesthood and offer the prescribed sacrifices in the Torah, Yeshua demonstrated the intended interpretation of his teaching in
Matthew 5:17, in which he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.”
By doing this He upheld both the commandments and the earthly function of the levitical system. He showed that His soon coming atoning work was not in competition with the levitical priesthood and system, but that His work was greater than these and the very thing upon which they were based/foundation.
His sacrificial death and resurrection were in place long before the creation of the heavens and the earth.
In Revelation, John declared Yeshua to be
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13:8.
It is this pre-existing act of Yeshua on which the entire sacrificial system is based, reflects and points toward?
Three, what was Yeshua hoping to prove to them by sending this man to the priesthood as proof?
This involves evidence submitted to the priesthood.
But what did it point to?
It actually makes a connection to the two previous questions. Yeshua/Jesus remained a lamb without blemish in regard to all of the righteous requirements of His Father, by having the man submit to the commands, the authorities and the procedures given by YaHoVeH in the Torah,
He would have immediately invalidated Himself as the anticipated Messiah and would have broken at least one, if not several, of the commandments and thus become a sinner Himself, if He had ignored or changed any of these procedures or had instructed the man whom He healed to do so. Matthew 5:19
The man would have presented a threefold evidence to the priesthood:
Firstly, that he was indeed healed and could begin the rituals which would allow for him to be declared clean and thus re-enter his community.
Secondly that there was indeed a healer of lepers in Israel, which would have given rise to messianic hope.
Thirdly that Yeshua was indeed qualified as one who could lead his people as the righteous Messiah and not a lawless false prophet who had come to tempt the Israelites away from Torah with signs and wonders. Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
Exodus 29:37. you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it and it shall be an altar most holy whatever touches the altar shall be holy.
This is clearly prophetic of Messiah Yeshua.
He is the atonement for sin. Hebrews 9:12.
The part of this story which has relevance to us today is in this scripture.
Lev 6:20 whatever whoever TOUCHES the flesh of the SIN offering becomes HOLY cleansed, sanctified, made atonement for.
He was fulfilling Old Testament – Torah – law and He said
I came to fufil it.
He touches us in our state of sin in the same Way He touched the leper
Whoever touched it became holy. Leviticus 6:18.
As already noted, Leprosy was also a type of sin.
Lashaon hara – evil speech. RA opposite of shalom.
Evil = out of harmony with God and His will.
Healing + Instant cleansing.
The flesh of the sin offering was Jesus/Yeshuas physical body. The human contact, the physical contact, the transference of Gods healing/restoring /redeeming/ cleansing power
The leper touched the flesh of the ultimate SIN offering.
The spotless lamb of God.
The leper was kneeling, submission, homage, respect and with the TOUCH
he was made holy/whole/ kadosh/set apart /cleansed unto the Lord.
His life changed forever he was no longer a leper, no longer a stigma, a named category of society shunned an outcast.
The TOUCH of God
the TOUCH of Messiah
caused his life to take another direction..
towards the priest to be accepted and restored to society.
His sins forgiven. His body restored and healed and
made holy – so that the at one ment with God was redeemed
and broken relationship was re-established.
Whoever touches the flesh of the sin offering becomes holy!
Reach out and Touch Him!
When we come and humble ourselves in a true genuine authentic attitude of repentance with deep Godly sorrow we touch Him and He touches us as our sin offering and we become holy!
When we understand and accept that He is our sin offering we are instantly cleansed.
Because the lamb of God has shed His blood as the ultimate sin offering and
our sins are not only covered but removed forever.
He is also our High Priest, so verse 4 for us is included within our relationship and He presents us to the Father as our mediator.
This is the good news -this is the gospel!
This is the creator of the universe TOUCHING His creation
and bringing us into the kingdom of His heavens.
Eternal love and everlasting life/chaim.
Let Him touch each one of us today.
He is willing
verse 4
I am willing
His life touched the world
His death at Pesach touched the world
His resurrection at First Fruits touched the world
and it has never been the same since because
He is still touching the world today through us.
He touched us and we are made whole and as He resides within us.
He touches others through us and darkness must flee,
light fills the souls that are touched and
human spirits are reborn and reconnected to their heavenly father
reconciliation, restoration, redemption and royalty are the result.
The touch of Yeshua/Jesus is what we need.
The touch of the masters hand
The touch of the saviors love
The touch of the redeemers forgiveness.
And the hope of His return.
IF you need the touch of Yeshua/Jesus
make sure He is given access to the sanctuary of our hearts
let Him in to heal, cleanse and deliver and fill us
that He may in turn touch others through our lives.
He touched me, oh, He touched me
And, oh, what a joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole
adjective שָׁלֵם. complete, entire, intact, perfect, total.
made me whole
in Hebrew is
עשה אותי שלם
שלם
The verb שלם shalem means:
to be or make whole or complete,
and is also used to describe
a righteous recompense
or proper restitution
(whether positive or not).
The familiar noun שלום shalom means:
wholeness, completeness or peace.
Many will be familiar with the older chorus above, never truer than today:
This different meal plan causes their physiology and behavior to develop completely differently from worker bees, despite the same genetic foundation. this transforming food with the aptly named substance, royal jelly.
(larvae drone worker bees)
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