We see two powerful perspectives on grace in this simple, yet astounding, story. First, we see an awesome faith in Jesus. The man believed Jesus could cure the incurable. He believed Jesus could give him back his life. That awesome faith brought him to Jesus—face down in the dust, to honor Jesus and to ask for his help. Second, we see the tenderness of Jesus. While the man is cured at the spoken word of Jesus (Remember one of the key themes that runs through several of the recent stories about Jesus is the power and authority of his words!), here the focus is on the touch of Jesus. This touch is not about healing; healing occurs through Jesus' spoken word, but grace comes through the touch of Jesus! Jesus touches a man who was ritually unclean and lets that man know that he is loved even in his diseased and unclean condition. The message for us is clear: we come to Jesus claiming nothing and knowing he is everything. As we offer ourselves to him, we find that he not only gives us what we want, but he also blesses us with what we most need—personal love and acceptance from our Creator and Lord!