Children’s Sermon

Mark 1:40-45

Healing Touch

Objects suggested: Items that represent different textures.

We touch many things with our hands. A pencil feels smooth. When you touch a stone you can sense how hard it is. A pinecone is sharp and may prick your finger. On a cold day it feels good to wrap your hands around a cup of hot cocoa.

Sometimes we are reluctant to touch something that looks creepy, like a slug, or a crawly bug. We may decide not to touch something because it is too hot, too cold, or too dirty.

In the Bible there is a wonderful story about the importance of touch. At that time some people had a disease called leprosy. Now we have medicines that cure leprosy, but at that time there was no way to make the disease go away. Because leprosy could be passed from one person to another, people with leprosy were made to stay far away from other people. No one touched them. It seems this would have been a very unhappy way to live.

A man with leprosy came to Jesus and asked to be healed. Jesus did not make the man go away. Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “…Be made clean” (1:41).

The story tells us that “immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean” (1:42).

Jesus touched the man in two ways – he touched him with his hand and he touched him with his love. We see the love of Jesus in action as he touches the man whom others would not let get close.

Your touch is important. You too can touch others with your hand – grandparents and parents love hugs. And, you can touch others with your love. Collecting food for people who are hungry, sending cards or visiting older people who are homebound, being a good friend to your brother or sister are just a few ways you can touch others with your love. When we love others, as Jesus loved, they can be touched and healed by that love.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible