“HE TOUCHED ME”

Matthew 8.1-4

¹ And when He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. ² And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” ³ And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus * said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and present the offering that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

The process of being Diagnosed with Leprosy

• · A normal day in his life when suddenly the spots appear
• · The man visits the priest and shows him the spots
• · The priest examines him (7 days) and declares that he is unclean
• · From that moment on he must avoid human contact (Living & eating in the dump)
• · If people come close he must cover his mouth and yell “UNCLEAN” to alert them

Imagine what it must have been like for this man.

Imagine what it is like for the people who feel untouchable today.

I. THE LEPER HAD A REAL NEED

A. Consider His past (Family)

B. Consider His present (Outcast)

• · He was TOTALLY Without Hope
• · He was TOTALLY Without Expectation
• · He was TOTALLY Abandoned

C. Consider His future (hopeless)

II. THE LEPER HAD A RELIANT FAITH

(One day he hears the word…Jesus)

A. Doesn’t question Christ’s ability, but His willingness

III. THE LEPER HAD A RECEIVED MIRACLE

A. The Lord was willing

B. The Lord touched Him

• Think about the boundaries crossed
• Without regard for the leper’s “uncleanliness”
• Without regard for the religious traditionalists criticism

C. The Lord’s touch changed his life

“The Touch of the Master’s Hand” – See Poem Below or go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyt3-Uy4gVQ

The Process of being declared “Cleansed” (Leviticus 14)

• · Show himself to the priest
• · Offering of two doves…the blood of one sprinkled on him
• · Seven day waiting period ~ then shave off ALL hair on the body
• · Bathe according to the law to be clean
• · Annointing with oil and lamb’s blood in prescribed way
• · Then he can be declared “CLEAN”

IV. WE MUST ASK IN FAITH FOR HIS TOUCH

A. We all have a need.

• The lost: salvation
• The sick: healing
• The confessing sinner: forgiveness

B. If we ask in faith Christ will touch us today

“With Christ the Ordinary becomes Extraordinary”

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

“Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar – now who”ll make it two _
Two dollars, and who”ll make it three?

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three”. . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bidden for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow;
“A thousand dollars – and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand – and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going – and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand –
What changed its worth?” The man replied:
“The touch of the masters hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He’s going once, and going twice –
He’s going – and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the MASTER’S hand.

~Myra B. Welch