Welcome back to our verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. Last lesson we focused on how God wants you to gaze upon Him, to be transfixed by Him, to really study Him, to analyze Him, to look closely at and behold Him, to believe in Him, and to fix your eyes on Him.
In this lesson, we’re going to learn about touching Jesus by faith.
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
Let’s focus on: touched with our own hands.
When the disciples were with Jesus, they could physically touch Jesus with their own hands.
Jesus was not a ghost or an optical allusion. Jesus had a real body.
Let’s go through some verses that show us the following:
Jesus wanted His disciples to know He is real through touch.
Jesus healed people through touch.
How you can touch Jesus by faith.
Jesus was real. He wasn’t just a spirit. We can see many examples in the Gospels where people touched Jesus.
For example, in Luke 24:38-40 after Jesus rose from the dead, He wanted His disciples to know that He had a real body by encouraging them to touch Him. Just like Jesus wanted the disciples to touch Him to show that He is real, He wants you to reach out and touch Him by faith.
Luke 24:38-40 “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.
Jesus healed people through touch.
In Mark 5:24-34 we read about a woman that suffered from bleeding for twelve years and reached out by faith and touched Jesus and Jesus healed her. Just like Jesus healed this woman, He wants you to reach out and receive His healing touch. He may or may not physically heal you, but He will heal you spiritually.
Mark 5:24-34 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. 25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. 27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?” 31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
In Mark 6:56 We read that when Jesus was walking through villages and towns people were healed when they touched Him.
Mark 6:56 And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
Even though you can't physically touch Jesus, as we read about in the previous verses, you can reach out and touch Jesus by faith.
Let’s review some verses that will show you how to touch Jesus by faith.
First, it’s important to understand that you can touch Jesus by faith at any time because Jesus is always with you.
In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus gives us the Great Commission. Jesus promises to always be with you. Because He is always with you, you can reach out and touch Him by faith at any time.
Matthew 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am always with you, even to the end of the age.”
Next, you can touch Jesus by faith, by drawing near to Him.
We read in James 4:8 about what happens when you draw near to Him. Jesus wants you to come close to Him. When Jesus is close, you can reach out and touch Him by faith.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
You can touch Jesus by faith through praise.
We read in Psalm 22:3 that God is enthroned in our praises. Enthroned means to inhabit or dwell in. While you are praising God, you can reach out and touch Him by faith because He is right there with you and enthroned in your praises.
Psalm 22:3 Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
You can touch Jesus by faith through worship. In Luke 7:36-37 we read about a woman that worshipped Jesus. This woman was known as a sinful woman. When she learned that Jesus was in her town she found him, fell to his feet, and worshipped Him. Just like this woman, you can fall down right now and touch Jesus by faith through worship.
Luke 7:36-37 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
You can touch Jesus by faith, by calling on Him. When you call upon Jesus, you will connect with Him and you will be saved.
Romans 10:11-13 It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
You can touch Jesus by faith, through communion.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
You can touch Jesus by faith by abiding in Him. Abide means to have a close relationship with Jesus. Having a deep relationship with Jesus is just like the relationship between a branch and the vine. The branch is not only touching the vine, the branch is strongly connected to the vine through continual contact. Jesus wants us to have a deep, abiding relationship with Him.
John 15:5-8 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
In conclusion, even though you can’t touch Jesus physically right now, you can touch Jesus by faith.
You can touch Jesus by faith by believing in Him, by knowing that He is with you always, by drawing near to Him, by praising Him, by thanking Him, by worshiping Him, by taking communion, and by abiding in Him.
Jesus wants you to reach out to Him and touch Him and experience the blessings of having a deep abiding relationship with Him.
Reach out right now and touch Jesus by faith.
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Thank you and God bless you.
~ Jeff M Newman
VERSE BY VERSE BIBLE STUDY LESSONS (See all)
Lesson 8 - Lesson 8 -1 John 1:2...we have seen it and testified to it... (Share Your Testimony)
Lesson 7 - 1 John 1:2 And this is the life that was revealed... (Eternal Life Revealed)
Lesson 6 - 1 John 1:1...this is the Word of life. (The Message of Eternal Life)
Lesson 5 - 1 John 1:1...and touched with our own hands...(Touching Jesus by Faith)
Lesson 4 - 1 John 1:1...which we have gazed upon... (Gaze Upon Jesus)
Lesson 3 - 1 John 1:1...which we have seen with our own eyes... (Eyes of Faith)
Lesson 2 - 1 John 1:1…which we have heard… (Hear and Obey God)
Lesson 1 - 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning (Jesus is Eternal)
(Image by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash. Garden Of The Gods In Colorado At Sunset. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 5 - 1 John 1:1...and touched with our own hands...