Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 24:39, ” See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. “

Background

In A Charlie Brown Christmas , Charlie Brown is depressed and goes to talk to Lucy about it. In order to help him, Lucy decides to pinpoint Charlie’s fears in hopes of labeling his problem. So she asks him if he has hypengyophobia, which is the fear of responsibility, or maybe climacophobia, which is the fear of staircases. She asks him about his fear of cats, the ocean, and crossing bridges. And finally she suggests pantophobia, which is the fear of everything. But one of the fears that she doesn’t suggest is haphephobia, which is the fear of being touched. And as I read the stories of Jesus, it is clear that He did not suffer from this ailment. Think of all the times that Jesus reached out and laid His hands on someone. Picture Him touching and cleansing the leper, or holding the ruler’s daughter’s hand and giving her back her life. And how about when he touched the ears and tongue of the deaf and mute man to make him whole. Similarly, imagine how many times someone touched Him. The sick and needy constantly reached out for Him, and the hateful and angry wanted to get their hands on Him for a different reason. Yes, Jesus definitely knew that helping people and affecting their lives was a hands-on job.

Application

And today, Jesus still says, ” See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. ” But now He is saying it through us. We are the body of Jesus. We are His hands and feet. We bear the marks of Him to a lost world. So there is no room for haphephobia in the life of the believer. We must touch and be touched to show the world a risen Savior. We must walk where others would not go to tell the story of a love that will not stop. So, do you believe that you are the hands and feet of Jesus? When someone is touched by your life, do they see Jesus? Are you willing to give up your comfort zone, your personal space, so that someone else may see? Or will you tell Jesus that you didn’t want to get His hands and feet dirty, that you were comfortable right where you were? If He has touched you, then you are His. And His love casts out all fears.

Charge

As we seek Him today, admit to God what you are afraid of. Let His touch heal you and give you strength. And then go and be His hands and feet.