TOUCHING DEATH

In Numbers 19:11-13, Scripture forbids touching a dead body, stating that anyone who does so becomes ceremonially unclean for seven days. To be purified, they had to wash with water on both the third and seventh days. If they failed to do so, they remained unclean. Similarly, Leviticus 11:31-38, Numbers 19:16, and Haggai 2:13 reveal that this uncleanness could transfer to anything the dead body touched, including a coffin.

Yet Jesus was never hesitant to touch the unclean. In Mark 5:35-43, He took the hand of Jairus’ dead daughter and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” In Luke 7:11-17, He touched the coffin of a young man and commanded, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” In both cases, rather than Jesus becoming unclean, the dead were brought back to life—the unclean became clean.

As I reflect on this during the Easter season, I see a connection between the third-day cleansing in Numbers 19 and Jesus’ resurrection on the third day. Just as those who touched death had to be purified on the third day, Jesus' resurrection is the cleansing we need for our sin. Romans 4:25 tells us that He was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” 1 Corinthians 15:17 confirms that His resurrection proves we are no longer bound to the uncleanness of sin. Through His death, He took our impurity upon Himself. His resurrection assures us that His sacrifice was effective.

This makes me wonder—what might the purification on the seventh day symbolize? In Scripture, the seventh day represents rest and completion, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3 when God rested from His work. One day, whether through death or Christ’s return, we will enter into His perfect rest, completely free from sin’s presence.

Until then, are we willing to let Jesus touch the unclean areas of our lives? If we do, He will cleanse us, give us life, and make us whole. As we approach the time of celebrating His death and resurrection, let’s invite Him to do just that.