Jesus violated purity laws by touching the untouchable. He touched lepers. He touched a dead body. He was touched by a woman who was hemorrhaging, which would have made Him unclean. Jesus shocked the people of His day by crossing lines to touch the untouchables. Every culture has them. Who are your untouchables? What is the class of sinners from whom you keep your distance? Untouchables don’t get hugs; Jesus gave them His embrace. By doing so, He reaches in love to their isolation and aloneness welcoming them to His company. If you are His ambassador, that is the kind of stuff you also do.
And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.” Mark 1:40-42 (NASB)
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