GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 5:27
A Touch
In 1962, Alice and I were on our way to Seattle, Washington, for the Century 21 Exposition—the Seattle World’s Fair. At the time, construction workers were building the highway that became I-44. Much of the highway at that time was U.S. Route 66. On one stretch of the highway, I saw a huge bulldozer with two side-by-side engines. An operator sat surrounded by gauges and levers. One reviewer said it was highly maneuverable and a delight to drive. The massive machine made others look like dwarves. But the operator could steer the machine by pulling or pushing a lever—a touch.
At another site, there was a massive excavator with a huge bucket that loaded dump trucks with one scoop. What would take workers with picks and shovels a day or more, this machine managed with one scoop. The operator sat in an air-conditioned cab and manipulated the massive machine with a lever—a touch.
Somehow, a woman from Caesarea Philippi suffering for twelve years with vaginal bleeding happened to be in Capernaum when Jesus and his followers landed on the city’s seashore—perhaps she was seeking out another physician. “Having heard about Jesus, coming in the crowd behind, she touched his garment.” (Mark 5:27) She heard about the remarkable miracles Yahweh performed through Jesus’ prayers, and she resolved to approach him, even if it was to touch his garment. According to St. Mark, she managed to push through the large crowd—making anyone she touched ceremonially unclean—and reached out a gaunt hand to touch him—a touch.
There may be a problem with the woman’s clear understanding of Jesus’ mission and message, but she began with the right method—a touch. That message still rings true: a life-changing meeting with Jesus begins with—a touch.
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