Hug Me Home
August 3, 2005
Jesus showed us what a Hug Me Home looks like. No
man or woman in ancient Israel had been mutilated by the
religious hatchet-men more than lepers. According to the law, as
they approached others on the street, lepers had to wear a cloth
covering over their mouth and shout, “Unclean! Unclean!”
Upon hearing the warning people turned away from
lepers, like they would a maggot infested carcass rotting on the
side of the road. If they touched a leper, or a dead body, they
became religiously unclean.
One day a man suffering from an advanced case of
leprosy approached Jesus (Mark 1:40-42). Large areas of raw
flesh, oozing scabs, and white shining spots covered much of his
body. An arm or leg may have rotted off, leaving only a stub.
The leper lived on an island of loneliness. He had
probably not felt the touch of a human hand or the warmth of an
embrace in years, perhaps decades.
How did Jesus respond? He did the unthinkable. He
threw out the rules and regulations. He tossed aside concern for
his own Pharisee sanctioned cleanliness. Filled with compassion,
he touched the leprous man and healed his disease.
On another occasion Jesus touched the hand of
Peter’s sick mother-in-law and she recovered. One day some blind
men approached Jesus and the he touched their eyes before
healing them. At the Mount of Transfiguration, when the
disciples became terrified, Jesus calmed their fears with a
touch.
Why did Jesus so frequently reach out his hands to
touch hurting people? He could have healed the leper, the blind
man and Peter’s mother-in-law with only a word. I believe he
touched them to meet their need for love and acceptance.
Nothing communicates acceptance better than a hand
on the shoulder, a pat on the back, or a hug. Our kids need to
be hugged, kissed, and lovingly touched. Sadly, many parents
only touch their children when necessity demands—to help them
dress, or get into a car.
One day some parents brought their children to
Jesus so he could touch them. Instead of a hug, the disciples
stiff-armed the kids. When Jesus saw this, he fumed with
indignation.
“"Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these . .
. And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them
and blessed them” (Mark 10:14-15). Jesus didn’t bend over and
lecture the kids. He didn’t sit on a stool and coolly instruct
them. No way! He gathered them into his muscular arms. He hugged
them tight. He laid his calloused hands on their little
shoulders and heads.
Hugs symbolize openness, accountability,
closeness, warmth, and love. God clothed himself in flesh so he
could draw near to us . . .so he could hug us. As we nurture a
Hug Me home, we’ll leave our children a priceless legacy . . .
they’ll know they’re loved. Hey . . . how about giving your wife
and kids at least a hug a day this week?
1Ross Campbell, How to Really Love Your
Child, Wheaton, Ill., Victor Books, 1887, p. 45.
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