TOUCHING THE MASTER

LUKE 8:4

A. "AND JESUS SAID, WHO TOUCHED ME?"
  1. A woman, having an issue of blood twelve years, found her way to the Master, touched the border of his garment:
    1. Saying, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole" - Matt. 9:21
    2. She had before this spent all her means with the physicians without receiving any help - Luke 8:43
  2. She was healed instantly, but was too timid to openly express her gratitude to the Lord:
B. "WHO TOUCHED ME?"
  1. Purpose of our Lord's question:
    1. He knew well who had touched him; for he knoweth all things - John 21:17
    2. It was not the common touch, as the disciples said.
    3. It was the touch of faith by a sick woman, who believed that He would heal her.
  2. Secret of the effects of her touch:
    1. She touched the fountain of life - John 1:4; 5:26
    2. Virtue left him and entered into her being - Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19
  3. The searching question by our Lord:
    1. Reveals a public obligation on our part to God - EXAMPLES -
      1. The healing of the ten lepers - Luke 17:17
      2. The man carried by four - Luke 5:25
      3. The centurion - Luke 23:47
    2. To men - EXAMPLES -
      1. The woman of Samaria - John 4:28-30
      2. Mary, who saw her risen Lord - John 20:17
      3. The blind man that received his sight - John 9:15-30
    3. It is one of God's means to make converts for the truth.
    4. That was true on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1- 41; also of the healing of the impotent man - Acts 3:1-26
C. TOUCHING THE MASTER
  1. The various touches:
    1. There is, as revealed in our opening text, the touch of faith; this touch brings blessings to us - EXAMPLES -
      1. The thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44
      2. The touch of a pleading mother in behalf of her daughter - Matt. 15:28
      3. The touch of the centurion - Matt. 8:10
    2. This touch honored the Saviour; it gave glory to God - John 4:29
  2. There is the touch of unbelief:
    1. We think of the people in His own country - Matt. 13:58
    2. Think of the attitude of the disciples after His resurrection - Mark 16:14
  3. Our text offers a threefold lesson:
    1. Let us be very careful of how we touch the Master!
    2. It will affect Him and us.
    3. It may be the difference between life and death; between salvation and damnation.
    4. There are a number of ways to touch the Lord of glory -
      1. We touch Him with our thoughts because He knows them like an open book - Ps. 139:1-9
      2. We touch Him with our words because He says, "That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" - Matt. 12:36, 37
      3. We touch Him with our actions; deeds by us can bring joy to His heart or they will bring deep sorrow to Him and to us - EXAMPLES - (a) Think of Peter when he cursed, denying the Lord; its effects - Mark 14:71, 72 (b) Judas, when he sold the Lord of glory for thirty pieces of silver - Matt. 26:15; 27:1-3


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