Thoughts for the Day

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Matthew has been recording Jesus' teaching of the people on the mountain (the Sermon on the Mount), but now we see our Lord continuing on his way. The subsequent story of the healing of the leper is also found in the other Synoptic Gospels (Mark 1.40-44; Luke 5.12-14) in an almost similar fashion. Although the Gospels were written many years later this healing obviously made a tremendous impact on those who were present and who recorded them first by word and later in written form.

Leprosy, or any kind of transmittable skin disease was greatly feared, not least because the sufferer was cast out of society and left to their own devices. A number of diseases came under the heading of leprosy, but they would have been treated in the same way. In Leviticus we find all the laws concerning these, including the instructions to present themselves to the priest who will determine if they are subsequently made clean. (Leviticus 13-14.20).

So what do we make of this healing, and what can it teach us today? Well it's worth noting:

1. The man is determined to see Jesus despite his leprosy making him an exile.
2. The man is humble before Jesus.
3. The man allows Jesus to heal or not to heal him.

Today, we need to develop the kind of trust that the man had in Jesus - by actually asking God for healing and not just leaving it to the doctors, even if God chooses to work through them! We need to have trust that the outcome of our request will be the right one, which may not be the one we desire. Ultimately we need to approach God in humility and say "May your will be done!"

Lord Jesus Christ,
we come to You this day for healing
for ourselves -
for our mind, our body or our spirit.
Forgive our sin,
and renew our trust in You,
so that we are content to leave decisions to you.
We pray also for ..............................................,
and ask for healing.
but again, may it be as You wish.
Amen.