Matthew 14:1-36

“And all who touched Him were healed.”

This passage opens with an earthly king (Herod) throwing himself a birthday party and making a stupid promise because of a provocative dance that resulted in the execution of an innocent and righteous man. Worldly politicks and power haven’t changed much.

Contrast that with the King of Heaven. He takes very little resources and feeds 5,000 plus people just because they are hungry. He then performs a remarkable miracle (walking on water) in the dead of night before only a few friends. Surely He could have gotten much more mileage out of this miracle if the press had been invited! We then find Him at Gennesaret where this remarkable statement is made: “And all who touched Him were healed.”

We could ponder just which of these two kings we might prefer to rule over us but that would only take a nano second. Jesus.

What struck me was the idea that if people would just reach out and touch Him they would be healed. Why? Yes, He was God, but could it be that such righteousness is so powerful that the curse of the fall (of which sickness is a part) simply cannot abide its very touch? In Acts we actually read of people being healed as Peter’s shadow passed over them. And we are being conformed to Jesus’ likeness.

There is a lot about this that I don’t understand. Some of what I do understand seems almost too wonderful to even mention. But one thing I certainly understand is that I want the King who feeds others and whose very presence heals.