Touching Jesus

 1^st Sunday in Lent!

Introduction:

 

A.   There is so much in a touch.

 

1.   A child can be sick or scared, and the touch from

a mother or father makes them feel so much

better!

 

2.   I've heard of studies being conducted where a

     baby left to itself without human touch

     eventually dies, even when all other needs are

     met!

 

3.   Today, at a "touch" we can microwave left-overs

     in about 3 minutes, or we can call long distances

     in a matter of seconds from a phone we have in

our pockets.

 

B.   This morning, as we begin Lent and begin a time of

self-examination, let's look at a "touch" in the

     Scriptures and see what was accomplished by it, and

     let's also ask ourselves, "Do we need a touch today?"

 

                            Prayer

                         Matt. 9:18-26

 

I.      Let's look at the Scriptures.

 

A.   Here, we have a woman who had been sick with

     hemorrhages for twelve years.

 

1.   She had been bleeding to some extent for twelve

years.

 

2.   She would have been weak and feeling miserable!

 

 

B.   Luke records that she had used her money for

     physicians, and they couldn't make her better.

Luke 8:43

 

C.   But she believed that if she could just touch Jesus

     she would be healed.

 

D.   She did, and she was!  (vs. 22)

 

II.    Do we have any sickness today?

 

A.   We have moral sickness!

 

1.   Many place such a low value on human life.

 

a.   In the last few years, we've had several

episodes of children killing children or

angry workers going into their workplace or

former workplace and killing innocent people

who have nothing to do with why they are

angry.

 

b.   Terrorist killings; killing the masses!

 

c.   It is on the news almost daily of someone killing someone, not necessarily because their life is threatened but just because….

 

d.   It is a lack of value of human life whether or not they agree with you!  It is a lack of love!

 

2.   People not keeping their commitments.

 

a.   Life partners not keeping their vows of  intimacy toward one another.

 

b.   People not keeping their word in business dealings.

 

 

3.   Prejudice, while improving in some places, is still alive and well.

 

a.   We have white supremist groups who try to

     hide their prejudice under a vale of

     religion.

 

b.   Gays are still beaten for who they are.

 

c.   Immigrants are being abused because they are

not from here or are different!

 

              d.   Sadly, it is even among those who call

themselves Christian!  That is not Christ-

like!

 

              e.   Christ showed us how to love all people!

 

B.   Yes, we still have physical sickness.

 

1.   Whether we live good lives or bad lives, we still  have physical sickness.

 

2.   Science has made a lot of strides in medicine,

     but we still have sickness and even death.

 

C.   Spiritual Sickness.

 

1.   The root to all the others!

 

2.   Today, as always, many people think they can do

     all right without God.

 

3.   The scripture says, "The wages of sin is

     Death...." (Rom. 6:23)  This sickness eventually

     leads to a Spiritual Death: separation from God.

 

III.  What's the answer to all this sickness?  To reach out and touch Jesus!  Jesus is the answer!

 

 

A.   If everyone would touch Christ, it would solve our

     Moral Problems!

 

1.   People would see themselves as God sees them

and change!

 

2.   People would see others with the respect and love that God has for them and treat them differently.

 

3.   The best thing we can do for our world's moral sickness is share Christ!

 

4.   Jesus was once asked what commandment is the

greatest?  His reply was “love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all your soul, and

with all your mind…” and “love your neighbor as

yourself. On these two commandments hang all the

law and the prophets.”  Matt. 22:35-40.

 

          5.   If we touch Jesus and love like Jesus, it will

solve all our moral problems!  It does not make

it worse!  True followers of Jesus have the

answer!

 

B.   When we touch Jesus, if we do not find physical

healing in this life, we even have a place to look

forward to after this life where they will be

completely healed of any physical sickness

physical sickness will be no more for the former

things have passed away! Rev. 21:4

 

C.   When we touch Jesus, a close relationship with Jesus

does away with the spiritual sickness.

 

1.   Instead, in this life, we have a full life (an

abundant life, a life of purpose.

 

          2.   We have a chance to make  a positive difference

in the world!

 

 

          3.   After this life, we have the promise of a

wonderful place that God has prepared for us

throughout eternity!

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   That touch is the touch of faith!

 

1.   Faith that Christ has done what is necessary

     to take care of our sins and put us back in relationship with God.  A deep rooted trust!

 

2.   If we continue in him he will show us where we

     need to change and make it possible for us to

     change!

 

B.   As we encounter Christ at the table today,

opportunity is here for us to touch Jesus in faith.  All we have to do is pray, "Lord I believe that you have made a way for me; I want to live for you! I receive what you have done for me"  Amen.  And mean it!

 

C.   It isn't prescribing to a certain set of beliefs; it is faith in what Christ has done for us, faith that God has made a way in Christ!

 

D.   For all of us, let us touch Jesus and ask him to make us more like him. Let’s submit to let Christ live through us!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion