A Leper Cleansed & Commanded...Matthew 8:1-4

 


Getting to the destination is the goal.  I set a goal not knowing if I will make it there in the time limit I have set but last week I did.  This crossing of Hallett Creek is 9 miles up the North Inlet Trail.  It is at the curve when you cross over to another mountain so you can see the trail on the other mountain as you are nearing this spot.  At this point I have been following the creek for awhile and wondering what kind of crossing it would have.  Would I be stepping on rocks to get across or would there be a wooden log or bridge?  What I found was a wide wooden log but it was cracked in half forming a "v".  It was plenty sufficient and lunch never tasted better after 4 hours of hiking.  

When we open up the Bible and read of the life of Jesus sometimes we don't know where the destination will take us.  Today was the cleansing of the leper after coming down the mountain where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  There were great multitudes following Him so there were plenty of witnesses to this miracle.  The leper came to Jesus, called Him Lord, and concluded that Jesus was the decider of his fate.  He was knocking at the door of Jesus and wondering if He would open it and give him a healing.  The leper didn't doubt Jesus' ability to heal but didn't know if He would heal him.  The answer was "yes"!

The destination was what Jesus commanded of the cleansed leper next.  He sternly warned him with a command to go directly to the priest and be verified as cleansed.  This would allow him to go home, the synagogue and back into society.  He was to be the witness to the priesthood that a messiah-like figure was here.  He didn't do it.  The word in Mark's account is "instead." I wonder if this is the response of so many who come to Jesus, call Him Lord and ask for a spiritual cleansing and then walk away to do what is "instead" instead of doing what Jesus has commanded?  I truly believe this is a physical picture of a physical healing to show us a spiritual picture of a spiritual healing that we all need.  

The destination was not just a physical healing or a spiritual healing but a life now committed to following Jesus and His teachings.  The leper was wise in coming and calling out to Jesus as Lord but he was foolish in not standing firm on that ROCK.  

What has Jesus called us to do?  What is a command He has given that you haven't followed through on?  Do we realize the witness that is not being made known because of our neglect of His command?  The leper alone had the opportunity to let the priesthood know that the Messiah had come.  We have the obedience opportunity to let others know that Jesus has changed our lives.  Will we rise up from our cleansing and obey?

Adam


A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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