October 22- Matthew 8:2-3

THE VERSE

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt down before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
~Matthew 8:2-3

THE THOUGHT

This is a remarkable account. In the Old Testament law, a leper was ceremonially unclean, and anyone who touched a leper became unclean themselves. But with Jesus, it worked the other way around. Instead of the leper's uncleanness passing from to Jesus, Jesus' purity passed to the leper. Rather than the man's impurity corrupting Jesus' holiness, Jesus' holiness overpowered the man's impurity.

What comfort this gives to spiritual lepers like us! As Martin Luther said, "His righteousness is greater than the sins of all men, his life stronger than death, his salvation more invincible than hell." When the life-giving power of Christ touches a person's life, they are made completely whole, forgiven and cleansed of all sin. Good news!

THE PRAYER

Jesus, I praise You for your conquering, overcoming, purifying love. I stand in wonder at Your holiness and glory that is never tainted by sin, but rather extends even to redeeming sinners.

EXTENDED READING

Leviticus 13:45-46
Psalm 51:7-10
Matthew 8:1-4

THE QUOTE

“We regard falling from God’s friendship as the only thing dreadful and we consider becoming God’s friend the only thing worthy of honor and desire.” ~Gregory of Nyssa

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

Lamentations 1
Song of Songs 6
John 6:60-71
1 Peter 4:1-11