Image from catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, ca. 4th century CE
Last week I spent a couple days over in Durham, NC at the ‘Advance the Church‘ conference. One talk was by David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham. David spoke powerfully on our need for radical service in light of the radical gospel we proclaim. One of the things he said to perspective our numbers shock when we consider the overwhelming brokenness of the world is the reminder that Jesus never lost himself in the needs of the thronging crowd. The Gospels record scene after scene of Jesus heeding the individual in the midst of the mob…showing his ability to be alone with the lonely. David mentioned briefly the account of Jesus with the woman in Mark 5 where in the midst of the throbbing crowd Jesus knows he’s been touched out of faith. We are given the woman’s internal dialogue in the agonizing moments up to touching Jesus (For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”). In the busy blur and billions of this world we are reminded that God knows us, knows we are hurting and his power is always present with us in Jesus. Below you can read and listen to my musical meditation on this passage.
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If I Touched Him He Would Heal Me
mp3 | chord chart |leadsheet | capo
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If I touched him he would heal me
If I touched him I’d be whole
If I touched him I would find
A healing balm for my sickened soul
If I touched him I would see,
The lame walk, and the deaf hear
If I touched him, he would know it
Oh, his voice would to me call
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Go in peace, my daughter
Your faith has made you well
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I would feel his healing power
Working deep inside the wound
I would feel his healing power
Breaking death and bringing life
I would feel his healing power
Coursing through me like a flood
I would hear the spirit singing
Set them free – the king has come
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If I touched him he would speak to me
full of tenderness and care
If I touched him he would speak to me
Of the burdens he would bear
If I touched him he would speak to me
He would hold my trembling hands
If I touched him he would speak to me
Of the cross where he would stand
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If I touched him, it would be like the balm of gilead
Like the oil of aaron, running down my head
If I touched him, he would know it
He would bless me through the shame
If I touched him, he would know it
He would know my very name
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words and music: Bruce Benedict, 2008, 2010
Great tune, man. Really singable, deep, and simple. Just like the gospel!
I really like this Bruce! It is calming, worshipful, and a beautiful message. Would we ever sing it in church?
man. this is a good song.
thanks brian.
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