Leper

Touching the Untouchable

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When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying,
“I will; be thou clean.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him,
“See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”           Matthew 8:1-4

The leper was one of the most untouchable people in the Jewish culture, and according to law. The leper was without family touch, and would have been such a lonely, painful, and debilitating existence.

The leper who came to Jesus had simple asked Jesus to make him clean. Jesus did something much more than cleanse him; Jesus touched him. Note the words in the text, “…Jesus put forth His hand and touched him…”  That touch, was a personal touch, a touch of caring, a touch of loving, and Jesus healed the man too.

That is just like Jesus, and like those who love Him and follow Him. Touching the untouchables is from God. Touching without fear. Touching without judgment or judging them knowing that they need that special care.

Jesus later went to the cross bearing our afflictions, our sins, and infirmities; becoming sin for us; and receiving the judgment, the wrath of Holy God, that should have been ours to bear. He carried our sins away in His burial. He rose again from the grave proving that all He had said was true. Proving that He died to put away sin, fulfilling all the law and prophets.

He wants to touch you today. Call on His name, and He will hear, He will heal you with His touch.

He Touches the Unclean

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And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” And He put forth His hand, and touched him, saying,
“I will: be thou clean.”
And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And He charged him to,
“Tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of Him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. Luke 5:12-15

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee. Psalm 84:11-12

When people of His day ran from the “unclean” leper Jesus reached out and touched him or her.

By our sins, we are all unclean in the sight of holy God, yet He loves us so much that He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins; our uncleanness; and whosoever believes in Him, calling on His name, shall have eternal life.

Jesus will touch your life, confess your sins to Him, repent and believe.

The Praising, Thankful Stranger

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“And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’  And when He saw them, He said unto them,
‘Go shew yourselves unto the priests.’
And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said,
‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.’
And He said unto him,
‘Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.’ ” Luke 17:11-19

Friday Prayer January 15, 2021

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“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.” Proverbs 15:27
“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, ‘I will; be thou clean.’ ” Mark 1:41

Father, You are my Provider, my Strength, and Healer. You are the Creator of all that is; both seen and unseen. You are the Light of the world. With You there is no darkness. I trust in You. Thank You for calling me to Yourself through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ Your holy only begotten Son.

Bow down Your ear, O LORD, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. I am needy of Your mercy, Your grace, and Your touch. There are many around me who have been, and are afflicted by disease and sickness and I ask for their healing; that You will touch them and renew their strength. There are families who are struggling financially, physically and spiritually and who desperately need a touch from You. Touch, heal, and meet every need they have according to Your glorious will; and especially save those who are perishing in sin.

Our world is plagued by hatred and violence, and some things being called hatred are words of truth that convict and cut to the soul and heart of people who hear it; yet call it “Hate speech”. O God, my God and Savior renew a right spirit in those who are Yours and heal our land as we repent of our sin and turn back to You. Rid our hearts and thoughts of greed. May our leaders and all turn back from bribes and bribery. Bribery in our government leaders is corrupting our land and deceiving the people and turning hearts to the deceits of men.

Touch the hearts and minds of Your people Lord in a powerful way. Show Yourself strong, O LORD, in those who have put on the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You; now and forever. Amen.

Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 082720

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“And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, ‘Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.’ And He put forth His hand, and touched him, saying,
‘I will: be thou clean.’
And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And He charged him to
‘Tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.’
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of Him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”  Luke 5:12-16  (KJB)

Words Of Jesus; Son Of God, God The Son – 071820

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“When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him, and, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.’
And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be thou clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, ‘See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.’ ”  Matthew 8:1-4

Our Infirmities

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He Took Our Infirmities

Matthew 8:1-17

JESUS TOUCHED THE UNCLEAN LEPER (vv. 1-4).

* Leprosy is a picture of sin

+ “ It is deeper than the skin (Lev. 13:3), it spreads (Lev. 13:8), it defiles and isolates (Lev. 13:45-46), it is worthy only of fire (Lev. 13:52, 57)”. FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY by Warren W. Wiersbe.

+ None are left untouched by sin.

* This man has been greatly humbled, and is submissive to the sovereignty and power of Jesus, as he says, “If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean”.
* Jesus touched the unclean, took his uncleanness, and gave to him health.

A ROMAN SOLDIER PRAYS IN BEHALF OF A SERVANT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD (vv. 5-13)

* This was a gentile Roman soldier who was hated among the people of Jesus’s birth.

+ The very hour Jesus spoke healing the slave/servant was healed.
+ In this instance it was according to this man’s faith.

* We do know that due to this man’s faith his servant/slave was healed that same hour.
* Just like the Roman soldier we can call on Jesus to come and heal despite our racial, or gender status.

JESUS TOUCHED THE HAND OF PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND RAISED HER TO HEALTH (vv. 14-15).

* Women held no honored position in Jewish society.
* For this woman to be in bed meant that she had more than just a stomach ache which so easily puts some people in bed today.

+ A belly ache was nothing, she would have kept on working, unless it was practically deadly.

* Jesus’s touch was a very special touch.

+ It was as if He were saying, “My people have been sick but I have come to take away their sicknesses, and diseases – particularly their ailment to sin.

COULD JESUS BE MAKING THE STATEMENT IN THESE TOUCHES, “I AM YOUR KING AND GREAT PHYSICIAN; I HAVE COME TO PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR SINS.”? (vv. 16-17).

* “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted”. Isaiah 53:4.

* Jesus delivers people from their sicknesses and demon possession.

+ People are oppressed by sickness due to the original sin in the garden.
+ People are possessed by demons due to their personal actions and invitation to evil in their lives.

* The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is the way to victory over sin, its sicknesses, and its evil in our lives.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Jesus Touches the Unclean

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“When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.’  And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be thou clean.’  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus saith unto him, ‘See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.’”  Matthew 8:1-4