Laying of Hands - A Reflection on Luke 4:38-44

 After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.

As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.

At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

 

During his time on earth, Jesus healed hundreds of people. Some of his methods were very unique and amuse me no end. He stuck his fingers into a man’s ears to cure him of deafness (see Mark 7:33a). He spat on his fingers and touched the tongue of a man who was dumb (see Mark 7:33b). He made a mud pack and placed it on the eyes of a man who couldn’t see (see John 9:6). He has also, on occasion, merely spoken a word of healing as in the case of two paralytics (see Matthew 9:1-8 and John 5:1-15), and a centurion’s servant who wasn’t even present at the scene (see Matthew 8:5-13). 

 

In today’s narrative, we find him laying his hands on the sick and healing them. He didn’t do this for one or two, he did it for everyone, despite the fact there were many people who had come to Jesus for healing. He had just gone to Peter’s house and found Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. He rebuked the fever and it left her. News traveled fast and before long the townspeople had gathered at Peter’s doorstep. Mark’s version says “the whole city was gathered around the door” (Mark 1:33). Jesus laid his hands on all of them.

 

What’s the significance of the laying of hands? In the Old Testament the general use in the laying of hands was negative. It meant to inflict harm or lay a curse on someone (see Genesis 22:12; Exodus 7:4; Nehemiah 13:21; and Esther 2:21 for just a few examples). Then, there was also the ceremonial laying of hands, where the priest would place God’s righteous curse on an animal that was brought to him as a sacrifice for sins (see Leviticus 1:4 and Exodus 29:10). However, there are two texts that anticipate how the laying of hands would come to be used in the New Covenant. These are Numbers 8:10 and Numbers 27:18, both acts of commission. 

 

When Jesus enters the scene it changes. We often find Jesus laying his hands on the sick to heal them (see Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 7:32; 8:22–25; and Luke 13:13). He also laid his hands on people, especially children, to bless them (see Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:16). Then, after Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit had been poured out, we find numerous examples of the laying of hands. Much of this was still for healing, but we also find it was for the giving and receiving of the Holy Spirit. It is why bishops lays their hands on confirmands during confirmation.

 

Hands are also laid to commission people, and in Acts 6 we find an echo of Numbers 8:10 and 27:18. Seven disciples are chosen to help out in ministry and these were presented “to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6). This is a practice that continues to be followed to this day, for instance in the commissioning of priests and pastors, as a sign of grace. There is much more to be said on the subject, of course, but I thought you might enjoy a taste of something a little different this morning.

 

May Jesus lay his hands upon us today.

 

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here:  https://youtu.be/M3HOIhAiH6w