A Daily Devotion for Monday, Feb.1
- ontrakk
- Feb 1, 2021
- 1 min read
Matthew 8:1-4
Mark 1:40-45
Luke 5:12-15
These passages tell of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. In each passage, the man tells Jesus he (Jesus) could heal him if he were willing. Jesus tells the man he is, indeed, willing. Jesus heals the man and tells him to pay at the temple what Moses had instructed. Jesus then asks the man to keep this encounter to himself, but the man does not.
These passages remind me of what we have been hearing about the fragrance of Christ. Jesus did not heal this one man solely to make his life better, or because of the man’s tremendous faith. He healed him in order to show others the love and power of God, and to draw others to God. His healed body in and of itself would be a testament to God’s love for us, and would have naturally drawn others to Jesus. Jesus was not after crowds, or showy acts of power.
These passages are a reminder to me of how God wants me to thank him for my blessings. The goal is always to win others to Christ by living as God would have me live. It is not the showy miracle but the love itself we are after.
Holy One, I am thankful for all you have done for me. May my life reflect your love for your creation. Amen
Becky, transforming
pic by Kay
Matthew 8: 1-4, Mark 1: 40-45, Luke 5: 12-15
Mark 1: 43 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
I have never understood why Jesus did not want the people he helped to talk about it. If I had been the leper, I would have shouted it from the mountain tops that Jesus cured me. If we were cured of the Covid-19 epidemic today, wouldn’t we shout it from the roof tops? I know I talk about my new life as a Christian re-born. I am happy and proud to share the happiness that learning about Jesu…
Matthew 8:11-4
Mark 1:40-45 Luke 5:12-15
Jesus cleansing a leper is one of the many miracles of Jesus. The story is found in all three of the Gospels: (Matthew 8:1–4)(Mark 1:40–45)(and Luke 5:12–16) this miracle emphasizes the importance of faith. Jesus did not say: "My power has saved you" but credited the healing to the faith of the leper. Before he asked Jesus to heal him he bowed down before him . He worshipped Jesus first before asking him to heal him. Jesus did not have to touch the leper in order to heal him. He could have healed him with a word or even a thought. Yet Jesus was moved with compassion. He healed the leper with a touch b…
In each of these parallel accounts, the Gospel writers make a point of Jesus telling the healed leper to go and give thanks at the temple without telling the details. This is not the only time Jesus does this. It is especially prominent in Mark’s Gospel. As Becky observed, Jesus was about healing and transformation, not performance and a large audience. There are self-proclaimed faith healers even today who are inordinately centered on “signs and wonders” as a big show and the risk of exploiting gullible people is very real. Look up Benny Hinn on the internet. Jesus was not a stage performer and basically told skeptics who demanded He produce miracles on demand they were misguided. The issue o…