Along the Way - Part II

Along the way, Jesus healed many of their physical diseases. “When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 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. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.” Matthew 8:1-3

Leprosy was an incurable disease that separated people from the rest of society. Lepers gathered in colonies on the outskirts of town. They weren’t allowed to be where others were. And if they got close, they needed to call out, “Unclean!” to alert people to their presence. Jesus was not afraid of this disease. In the first case, he reached out his hand and touched the man. No man in his right mind would touch a leper! But Jesus did.

This man understood Jesus’ power to heal. He took the risk of approaching Jesus.

He understood the authority of Jesus. He knelt before him.

He understood the sovereignty of Jesus. “Lord, if you are willing…”

He understood the love of Jesus. He sought out Jesus even though Jesus was surrounded by a crowd – although I’m sure the crowed parted rapidly as he called out, “Unclean!” He somehow knew Jesus would see him and he would have an opportunity to ask for healing.

All of that, the man did. And then he made a statement. He didn’t ask for healing, but he made a faith statement that he believed Jesus was able to heal.

What Jesus did was simple. He confirmed everything the man had done in one simple statement, “I am willing.”

I wonder what was going through the man’s mind. He didn’t seem arrogant, yet he did a somewhat arrogant thing – he entered the crowed and approached Jesus even though the laws that governed their society would have prevented him from doing so. He humbled himself and bowed before Jesus. Yet he did not beg for healing. In the midst of all of this is the unspoken word, ‘hope’. I’m sure he longed to be healed so he could be back with his family and friends in the comfort of his home.

I wonder also what may have happened to the man after he was healed. Did he become a follower of Jesus? Was he one who in the end became a martyr for what he believed? Did he teach others to be followers of Jesus by sharing his experience?

“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:11-15

Jesus healed ten and only one of them seemed to understand who Jesus was and came back and “threw himself at Jesus’ feet.” So why did Jesus heal all ten if they weren’t going to understand who he was and what power had healed them?

Apparently, not everyone who experiences Christ recognizes him and responds with gratefulness and humbleness. It seems that some of us are arrogant enough to believe that we deserve to be healed or that we were just one of the lucky ones who were at the right place at the right time.

I wonder if I would have been the one of the ten who returned to thank Jesus and bow before him, or if I would have been the one who bowed before Jesus and confirmed my faith regardless of the outcome. Now it’s getting personal. How do I approach Jesus when I have a desire, a hope, a ‘prayer request’?