Since we have undertaken to lead our Children's ministry through a year-long reading of the New Testament (see the Jan. 7 entry), I've been struck by something I'm not sure I've ever really paid attention to before. We are currently reading through the Gospel of Mark, having completed Matthew. As I read of Jesus' dealings with people, His teachings, His miracles & signs, I'm fascinated by how He brings healing to people. It seems like He never healed two people exactly the same way, even if it was the same issue/ailment. One blind man, He would simply say, "Be healed!", and the man's eyes would be opened. Another, He might spit on some dirt, rub it on the guy's eyes, and tell him to go wash. Still another, He would spit right in the eyes, and heal him on the spot. He drove out demons differently, some very confrontational and face-to-face, others from a great distance, one even without directly addressing the demons. He commanded, they fled. He healed lepers by putting His hands right on them, He healed the mute by touching their tongue, healed the deaf by poking His fingers in their ears, and even healed some who just touched His clothes. Never the same way twice.

He was so personal with each circumstance, often so private. Sometimes He would even instruct them not to tell anyone, which usually didn't work! But each case was very personal, very intimate, very specific to the individual. I love this. Jesus Christ, King of all kings and Lord of all lords, God Almighty from age to age, walked the dust of earth among us. Not as some unapproachable holy man or mystic, but as "God with us", Divinity up close and personal, the Creator in clothes. And He touched. He spoke. He healed.

I love how He loved people. How He treated women. How He raised the dead, healed the sick and broken, restored health, hope, life. I think that was His real motivation. Physical healing was important, but Jesus saw deeper, to what each person really needed, and He healed there too.

May I see others as Jesus saw them, may I touch as He touched, may I love as He loved, may I be an instrument of His healing, in this lost, hurting, dying world.