Please be in prayer for our service on Sunday as we consider the desperate plight of the leper. Of course, Luke is proving the claims that Jesus made when he preached his sermon in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-27). That is, Jesus, the anointed one, has to come usher in the Lord's favor to the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed (4:18).
At this point in the narrative, Jesus has delivered the possessed, healed the sick, preached the kingdom to the crowds (4:31-44), and called out Peter (and James and John) from his idolatrous life to follow him (5:1-11).
Now a desperate man with the desperate condition of leprosy comes urgently, humbly, and boldly to Jesus for healing and cleansing.
Indeed, Jesus has demonstrated his authority and glory as the Son of God (3:38).
In light of this, the leper recognizes two things: 1. Jesus' authority and glory; 2. the leper's own desperate condition.
It's in knowing these two truths that precipitates desperate faith for the leper. It wasn't a comfortable place for the leper; but it was the safest place.
Truth be known, we are no less desperate than the leper. Prosperity, health, and creature comforts mask this condition for us. Let's learn from the leper.
No comments:
Post a Comment