BEING TOUCHED BY CHRIST
When Jesus lived among men around 2000 years ago, it was widely accepted that his touch would bring forth healing and miracles. While Jesus indeed did facilitate healing remotely, most of the miracles he performed followed him touching a person. The Bible repeatedly mentions about people requesting Jesus to touch them or theirs.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. (Mark 7:32-35)
What is the significance of this touch? While a touch is an act of compassion, it is much more. A miracle is that which is not explained by natural phenomena and by the known laws of nature. And we know that miracles occasionally do occur. If they occur more frequently than usual, they cannot be called miracles. So there must be something that either bends the laws of nature or provides access to another realm of operation to bring about that, which is not usual. The Biblical worldview provides us with knowledge of the spiritual realm, which explains the occurrence of miracles.
The spiritual realm is the unseen dominant realm in the universe. All that is physical and visible came forth from and stands on the pillars of the spiritual realm. This realm is the realm wherein God predominantly exists and operates and also controls the physical realm. This truth perfectly coexists with the reality of the will of man to determine the course of the physical realm, to the extent allowed by God. Now if there arises a man who by virtue of his nature or effort has access to the resources available in the spiritual realm, he could provide a way for miracles to happen, because now he is able to operate in the spiritual realm, not bound by the limitations of the physical realm. Jesus being God in the fullness of deity by nature, had access to the spiritual realm though he was physically bound as a human being during his time here on earth.
And when Jesus touched others or was touched, like by the woman with the bleeding disorder, healing instantly occurred. In examples like these, where the touch needed to be more intimate, Jesus used resources like his spit and a second touch in some instances to provide a ‘deeper’ touch to bring about a miracle. While Jesus could bring about these miracles by virtue of his nature, his disciples can also replicate the same by virtue of vicarious access into the spiritual realm through faith in Christ. This requires faith, a gift (because God determines who can do what) and an effort on the part of the to develop holiness to an extent that God could work through that person.
The possibilities of such a touch then become endless.
