Worth Repeating - January 8, 2017

Matthew 8: 2, 3 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. (NIV)

Contact with Jesus . . . changes the unclean to clean.*

Any time you get to feeling overwhelmed by your unworthiness, remember this story and be reminded of our Savior’s amazing love. In the society in which Jesus moved, no one was lower than a leper, never mind that the person was diseased through no fault of his own. Because the Jews regarded leprosy as a curse from God, doctors didn’t even try to treat it. A leper was only fit to live with other lepers.

This particular leper was audacious enough to present himself to Jesus for healing. He knew that Jesus had the power to heal him – he just didn’t know if Jesus would be willing. Not only was Jesus willing, he demonstrated his love and his power in this one act. He “could have healed the man with a look, or a word – instead he reached out and touched him.”* How long had it been since this poor man had felt the touch of another human?

Do you believe that Jesus has the power to heal you? Do you believe that he is willing? Do you believe that his love is powerful enough to touch you and make you clean?

It’s hard to imagine Jesus could have done anything more compassionate than touch a man who had been untouched, unloved, and in a sense, unseen.*