Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew that something great was about to happen? Something life changing.
Excitement, anxiousness, joy, exhilaration. Heart-racing, palm-sweating, nervous laughter, anticipation.
Now you know how my friend felt as he stood at the bottom of the mountain that day. He knew His life was about to change – it could go either way. His best dreams could come true, or his encounter could result in his total disgrace.
No, I don’t know him personally, but I’ve read his story so many times that I feel I do.
“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”
3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared. 4 Jesus told him, “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed.” Matthew 8:1-4 CEV
There is so much to unpack in these four verses.
Jesus had just finished preaching the Sermon we’ve been studying. He’s followed by the crowd.
SUDDENLY.
A man with leprosy rushes up to Jesus. He had to move quickly, or Jesus disciples and some other well-meaning Jews would have had him removed from Jesus’ presence. The leper was unclean and not allowed personal contact with anyone, let alone, a teacher as great as Jesus.
I believe this leper had been standing back in the shadows listening to Jesus teach. He was hiding because of his condition but he was listening. He heard Jesus say, “Ask and it will be given you, search and you will find, knock and the door will open”.
And here he was asking, seeking and knocking. “You have the power to make me well, if you want to”.
Then something amazing happened. A true God moment. Jesus reached out and TOUCHED the man who had been untouchable. Jesus was the first one, in years, to physically connect with this man. He had longed for the touch of his family and friends. A handshake, a pat on the back, a gentle hug or a tender kiss but no one ventured to touch him except Jesus.
“I want to” Jesus said. “Now you are well”.
I can’t help but wonder how many other people in that crowd had issues, concerns, situations that were eating away at them the way leprosy was destroying this man’s body. They had heard Jesus say ask but the only record of anyone asking is this man, the leper.
What Jesus told him to do next is important. He told the man not to tell anyone about his healing until he had gone to the priests to be examined. According to Jewish law, a leper had to be pronounced clean by the examination of a priest or he would not be allowed back in general population. To do otherwise could have resulted in his death.
Oh, dear friend, is there anything that has you living as an outcast? It may be a bitterness that has festered for so long, a sense of unworthiness, a heartache or an action from your past that has you living in shame.
Come to Jesus, suddenly, right now and let Him touch you and cleanse your hurt and pain.
“He touched me, Oh, He touched me. And oh, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know. He touched me and made me whole.”*
Something great is about to happen!
*lyrics by Bill Gaither