Mark 1:41 (English) - "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!'"
(Afrikaans) - "Jesus het hom innig jammer gekry, sy hand uitgesteek en hom aangeraak met die woorde: 'Ek wil dit vir jou doen. Word gesond!'"
(My direct translation of the Afrikaans) - "Jesus became profoundly sorry, stretched out His hand and touched him with the words: 'I want to do this for you. Become healthy!'"
Jesus... touched him with the words. This translation leaves a bit of ambiguity (though it's more likely my poor translation) - did Jesus just stretch out His hand toward the man and use His words to heal, or did He touch him both physically and with His words? This imagery of touching someone with words - touching them enough to bring some sort of inner healing - is strong.
Maybe the primary healing you need is emotional. Maybe I have words to touch you, to heal you. Maybe the healing I need is spiritual or intellectual. Maybe you can touch me with healing words. The question is, do you want to do that? Do I want to do that? Do we have the time in our busy schedules? Time to be flexible?
We're all lepers in one way or another. Jesus wanted to heal the leper in Mark 1:41, and I believe He wants to work through us to heal people today. May we all become "profoundly sorry" - especially when we can do something about it - and may we touch others with words that bring healing.
(Afrikaans) - "Jesus het hom innig jammer gekry, sy hand uitgesteek en hom aangeraak met die woorde: 'Ek wil dit vir jou doen. Word gesond!'"
(My direct translation of the Afrikaans) - "Jesus became profoundly sorry, stretched out His hand and touched him with the words: 'I want to do this for you. Become healthy!'"
Jesus... touched him with the words. This translation leaves a bit of ambiguity (though it's more likely my poor translation) - did Jesus just stretch out His hand toward the man and use His words to heal, or did He touch him both physically and with His words? This imagery of touching someone with words - touching them enough to bring some sort of inner healing - is strong.
Maybe the primary healing you need is emotional. Maybe I have words to touch you, to heal you. Maybe the healing I need is spiritual or intellectual. Maybe you can touch me with healing words. The question is, do you want to do that? Do I want to do that? Do we have the time in our busy schedules? Time to be flexible?
We're all lepers in one way or another. Jesus wanted to heal the leper in Mark 1:41, and I believe He wants to work through us to heal people today. May we all become "profoundly sorry" - especially when we can do something about it - and may we touch others with words that bring healing.
1 comment:
YES! This is absolutely beautiful.
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