Matthew 8:1-4
Reflect
In addition to sores, lesions and bumps that show up on the skin, leprosy can affect nerve function and can lead to loss of sensation. This then impacts the ability to feel pain, extreme temperatures, even the sense of touch. Leprosy can also be spread from person to person. Needless to say, the effects of leprosy are not easy to hide.
In Jesus’ day lepers we ostracized and forced away from society because people did not want to get leprosy. Here in our passage the leper approaches Jesus in faith that, if He was willing to, Jesus could cure this disease that had no treatment in Bible times. For this man Jesus is willing, and by reaching out and touching the leper, He heals him. This healing is immediate, physical, and it removed outward evidence of the disease.
What I’d like to focus on is the touch from Jesus which this man may not have experienced, possibly for a long time. The restorative power of a touch from Jesus should not be overlooked. Jesus’s compassion for the leper’s emotional wellbeing is evident. May we come to Jesus like the leper, laying our brokenness before Him and experience the power of His touch, yielding love and grace.
Pastor Mike
Pray
- Pray for our Senior Lead Team Pastor, Lyle Buyer, his ministry, and family.
- Pray for our Church Board members: Beth Cheung, Gerhard Hiob, Hal Reirson, JD Kliewer, Mary Jetha, Mike Ross, Randy Voss, Seth Jansen, Trevor Toews, Uwem Okome.
- Pray for our Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Facilities Manager, Joe Richards
- Pray for our office staff: Vicky Bailey, Naomi Voss; bookkeeper Liudmyla Lushchyk.