Jesus had a hands-on ministry

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them (Luke 4:40, NIV).

According to an article by the Evergreen Psychotherapy Center on the importance of touch, institutions surveyed in 1915 reported that a majority of infants under the age of 2 had died due to failure to thrive, related to the lack of touch and affection (Chapin 1915; cited in Montagu 1986, p. 97).

Jesus knew about the importance of touch. He had a hands-on ministry. Many of His healings involved personal touch.

He touched a deaf and dumb man on the ears and tongue and gave him hearing and speech (Mark 7:31–35, NIV).

He touched a leper on his skin and cleansed him of leprosy (Mark 1:40–42, NIV ).

He touched a blind man’s eyes and restored his sight (Matthew 9:27–31, NIV).

He touched a woman on her hand and cured her fever (Matthew 8:14–15, NIV).

He touched a man on his hand and healed his withered hand (Mark 3:1–6, NIV).

He touched a man’s head and mended his ear (Luke 22:50–51, NIV).

According to Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages, “Different people with different personalities give and receive love in different ways”.

Persons with touch as their primary love language feel loved when they hold hands, hug, or touch arms, and these were some of the ways Jesus chose to show His love through the power of personal touch.

Want to dive deeper? You’ll find this story—and many more that reveal the beauty of our Triune God—in God the Father, the Son & Holy Spirit: Exploring Biblical Truths About the Triune God, available on Amazon.