Friday, March 14, 2025

Listen to the Word

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 cleansed of his leprosy. (Matthew 8:2-3)

I am stunned by the order of Jesus’ actions in today’s Scripture. He touches the leper, and then he heals him. The leper has long known a world in which he must shout “unclean” everywhere he goes to make sure nobody accidentally brushes up against him, but Jesus intentionally reaches out and touches him. Jesus does not fear contracting his disease or catching his social and spiritual contamination. The leper has not known human contact throughout the course of his illness, and then he experiences the touch of the Messiah. Jesus could have healed from a distance. Or he could have yelled, “Stop, be clean!” and THEN touched the leper. But he knew the man needed a touch as much as he needed healing.

The leper had wondered if Jesus would be willing to heal him. Not only was he willing to heal him, he was willing to touch him!

Live the Word

Invite Jesus into the mess of your life today and ask to touch you there.