“Touch Me”—God.
Did you ever take a four-year-old to an art museum? Watch out! There he goes, crawling under the velvet rope connecting brass posts. Poking the do not touch signs. Racing down the red carpets. Art museums are not designed to entertain preschoolers.
But the children’s museum, that’s a different story. Signs are everywhere: Shake this box. Push this button. Climb this wall. Spin this wheel. Pull this knob.
In the Old Testament God was untouchable. Do not touch the mountain or fire will devour you. Do not touch the Ark, or God will zap you. Do not peek behind the veil, or you’re toast. God was holy, dreadful, and powerful. His touch was feared. Even His name inspired such terror that men would not utter it.
Something in God’s relationship with His creation was missing. So God made a better way.
He took on humanity. Not as a king sitting in the throne room holding out a scepter to a chosen few. Not with guards standing in attendance. Not with velvet ropes connecting brass posts. But God came in the flesh of a baby—a weak, helpless, lovable baby. A baby who needed to be fed and changed and cuddled.
The holy glorious God of Heaven came crying to be held, to be loved, to be cared for. Click To TweetA baby that everyone longed to touch. The holy glorious God of Heaven came crying to be held, to be loved, to be cared for.
Touched by God
Jesus’ passion was touching people. He touched the untouchable: the ones the Law said, “Do not touch.” A hemorrhaging woman. A filthy leper. A dead man.
Jesus’ passion was touching people. He touched the untouchable.
His touch brought life, healing, deliverance.
In His life He tore down the do not touch sign. In His death He removed the red velvet barriers. Through His resurrection He made a way for everyone everywhere to touch Him at any time.
“And Jesus said, Who touched me?” (Luke 8:45).
Was it you?
Resources and Links
To train children in the church and at home, lean on Barbara Westberg, a trusted voice of children’s ministry. Click here for resources.
A version of this content originally appeared in Sisters of the Military newsletter.