This short post proves that no matter how bad off you are, how shameful or vile you are, there is someone where you can find compassion.
We have struggles with things that are shameful and are slowly eating us away from the inside out. Where can you go and get help without being judged and condemned?
We have struggles with things that are shameful and are slowly eating us away from the inside out. Where can you go and get help without being judged and condemned?
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, 'Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.” Matthew 8:2- 3. NIV
THE NAMELESS LEPER
Every time he saw his hands, arms, legs, or feet, he would see the loathsome sores and rotting flesh of a painful creeping death. This dreaded disease had the stigma of sin and God’s judgment. The leprous had to wear rags and live apart from society, and whenever another person approached, they must call out, "Unclean! Unclean!" The response would have been curses punctuated with thrown stones.What beauty and compassion to see Jesus speak to him with tenderness and to do the unthinkable- to touch the man with leprosy and to risk the contamination of the disease. The touch may have meant more to the man than the healing.
WHAT THE LEPER KNEW
The beggar called Jesus Lord. This is in contrast to the action Jesus takes moments later. A lord or king does not touch a common person, and in first-century Jewish culture, he would not even speak to a leprous person. The beggar knew Jesus was the Lord.He knew that Jesus was able to cleanse him. He did not ask, "Are you are able?" believing that Jesus was able is implied when he stated that if Jesus was willing, he could heal him.
He knew his place was on his knees before Jesus. Not only since Christ as Lord but as a humble petitioner.
COMPASSION
Jesus spoke kindly and gently to the beggar. His words, "I am willing." are among the most significant words ever written. Amazingly, Jesus touched the untouchable man, a man who has not known a human touch for so long- and he is healed.This Savior who touches the untouchable is Lord and Master.
If Jesus were among us today, he would not steer away from people who struggle with addictions, abuse, deformity, poverty, ignorance, and slavery to harmful lifestyles; he would reach out to touch them.
I AM WILLING
Jesus said. "I am willing." as he touched this poor soul, and on his lips, those words are golden music from heaven. He is willing to heal and to touch. It is not only good wishes or good intentions, but he is purposeful in healing us. He is willing- after all, he left his place in heaven. He came to be our Savior by dying for our sins and to give us eternal life, thereby dealing with the cause of our inner darkness and beginning the process of transforming us into new creatures.THE TOUCH OF JESUS HEALS
When we come to Jesus with our own personal leprosy, we can kneel before him and say, if you are willing, you can heal me- and we can be assured that he is willing.
(c) Adron 8/18/10
