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Our skin has immediate contact with the world. We can feel cold, hot, even without touching with our hands. We have sense receptors all over our body. You are probably not aware of the clothes on your body right now because your brain is filtering out less important stimuli. But you would be immediately aware of a tiny bug crawling up your arm.

Swedish scientists have now shown that “the human finger can discriminate between surfaces patterned with ridges as small as 13 nanometers in amplitude.” That’s incredibly sensitive. A nanometer is one-thousandth of a micrometer. A micrometer is one-thousandth of a millimeter or roughly 0.00004 inches.

Today we are going to look at the sense of touch and how this relates to knowing God.

1 John 1:1-4

These are some incredible verses that give us a glimpse at the closeness the original disciples had with Jesus!

…which we have heard…our word acoustic
…which we have seen with our eyes…to stare at
…which we have looked upon…to look at closely
…our hands have handled…to touch/verify by contact

Our word autopsy comes from the 1650s. It means to see with your own eyes!

They said: We have seen eternal life, and eternal life is a person! Jesus Christ!

These early disciples were eyewitnesses. Their message is not hearsay. These witnesses heard Jesus’ voice. They saw Him, as we say, “with their own eyes.” They examined every detail of His life. The touched Him, hugged Him, shared meals with Him. They watched Him die and saw Him after He was raised from the dead. Mary Magdalene touched Him and didn’t want to let Him go when He appeared to her at His tomb. Thomas, even after a week of unbelief, touched His resurrection body and went away a believer! Let’s look at Jesus touch.

Jesus’ Touch

Jesus consistently surprised and infuriated the religious leaders. He touched dead bodies, lepers, outcasts, sinners, and people considered ceremonially unclean. He allowed children to come to Him and said that we had to become like children to enter the Kingdom of God. He was for the people. He wasn’t a distant unapproachable Savior. Here are a few examples of His loving touch:

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3 (NKJV)
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. Matthew 8:15 (NKJV)

Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith, let it be to you.” Matthew 9:29 (NKJV)

And He took him aside from the multitude and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Mark 7:33 (NKJV)

Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Luke 7:14 (NKJV)

But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:51 (NKJV)

But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” Matthew 17:7 (NKJV)

We need His touch too. We need to reach out in faith today and touch Him! Be encouraged by the multitudes that realized the power of Jesus touch and reached out to touch Him!

Touching Jesus
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Luke 6:19 (NKJV)

1. The Touch of Love
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. John 20:16–17 (NKJV

2. The Touch of Faith
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20–22 (NKJV)

3. The Touch of Proof
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
John 20:26–27 (NKJV)

We talk about something being ‘fire-proof’ or ‘waterproof’ or ‘soundproof’ or ‘foolproof.’ Thomas’ unbelief leads us to see that Jesus’ resurrection can make us ‘unbelief proof.’

Today is no different than when Jesus walked the streets. He is still touchable by faith. He wants to touch you today. Perhaps it’s your fears that need His touch. Doubtless, there are people here who need His healing touch. Maybe you just need to hear His voice say your name. Perhaps you are like Thomas; you need proof. Whatever your need today, Jesus is here.

Pray for people who speak Swedish. Below is John 3:16

Så älskade Gud världen att han gav den sin ende Son, för att de som tror på honom inte ska gå förlorade utan ha evigt liv.

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