He took up our diseases and carried our illnesses.
You know what impresses me most about the Teacher?
He doesn’t simply teach the truth. He lives the truth!
Our Teacher doesn’t merely sit on the mount and preach. He comes down into valley and ministers to those in pain.
The sick, the possessed, the anxious parent of a sick child!
The Teacher even does what nobody else dares to do. He touches a man with the contagion of leprosy.
I can’t help wondering how long it had been since anyone – except perhaps other lepers – had touched this broken man?
Our Teacher is still one who comes to us today with great compassion. Not only bringing life-giving truth, but touching us at the point of our most pressing need and pain!
He touched me, Oh, He touched me
And Oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole!
These lyrics are the grateful response of every broken heart mended by the Savior who touches.
Wow, Denny, great comforting thoughts, thank you.
ReplyDeleteA few things stuck out to me:
Jesus, when talking to the centurion, reminds those around that others besides Israelites would come to God. “I say to you, many will come from the East and the West and will take their place at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (8:11) Which going back to God’s promise to Abraham shouldn’t be surprising “... and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen 12:3b) Yet almost every book from Acts on has some scriptures about Jews and Gentiles both being accepted by God, which may have been one of the biggest challenges in the church for the first few centuries. And yet, we still struggle from time to time with prejudices! And even in the church have congregations here and there that are for “one people” and not “another.” Salvation is open for all who will believe and follow the Teacher, Jesus the Christ.
Do we understand the authority of Christ? The centurion did. And Jesus said he hadn’t found any greater faith in Israel. What do we pray for? And how do we pray? Do we pray for God to guide doctors? Do we pray for “healing?” Do we believe in the authority of God? Or do we want to place him inside a box of our understanding? This is a challenge to me, to remember that God is bigger than my understanding - and to pray in faith that God can do things I could never imagine. Who would have thought that Jesus could have healed the Leper by touching him? Who would have thought he could heal a paralyzed man from far off, by his command? The Centurion did!
Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth! (Matt 28:18)
Do we ( I ) understand that?
Do our (my) prayers reflect that?
Oh me of little faith!