I’m sure you’ve seen photos of celebrities engulfed around a sea of people, some paparazzi, others just trying to get an autograph, still others seeking to touch them.

There are 3 stories in the NT of folks that were able to touch Jesus….

In Mark 5:21-34……25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, ……. 28she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Why I love this story…..
This woman was desperate, spending all that she had seeking a cure. It reminds me of (Mt 13:46 “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.) She didn’t want to bother Jesus, feeling so unworthy, yet had the faith, knowing if she was only to touch him, she would be cured. “Who touched me” He asked. He knew her sorrow, and He cured her. (Joh 2:24 because he knew all men,)

In another story…….
This one concerning a different woman in Luke 7:36

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, 38and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. …. 50And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Why I like this story…….
We have this contrast between Simon and this sinful woman – Pharisee’s didn’t like to be touched (Mr 7:4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.) Yet this woman, in a show of great humility, anointed His head with costly oil – perhaps worth 1 years wages? How much is too much to come in contact with the Savior? She washed His feet with her tears – How do your sins make you feel?

In this third story.….
We find one who wanted to touch Jesus for proof in Joh 20

But Thomas, one of the twelve, …27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Why I Like this story…………..
Many are like Thomas, “I’ll never believe unless I see Jesus.” Let me warn you friend, you will believe when you see Him. (Ro 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”) We need to remember the words found in Hebrews, (But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6)

These are some touching stories…………..
All 3 strove to touch Jesus
All 3 had an attitude of unworthiness and a godly fear of Jesus (though Thomas got it after)
All 3 had faith that healed. Thomas finally saw what the others had already seen.
All 3 were repentant

THERE WAS ANOTHER THAT TOUCHED JESUS.

Mat27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band. 28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. 31And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.
The warning for us is to not do as they did. Heb 6:4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

But there is one more story………..YOURS…….Will He touch you?

Rev21: and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

BUT ONLY IF YOU’VE TOUCHED HIS BLOOD…
Our Lord said in Mt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Then, in Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Please notice, “for the remission of sin” is the same wording!! The Bible connects baptism with the shedding of Christs blood!!
(Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.) Baptism is the only way we come in contact with the blood that will give us, “the remission of sins.”

Ac 22:16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’