For the next couple of days we'll be looking at "Snapshots of Jesus":
Imagine if there were paparazzi in Jesus' day...
and an art gallery mounted a collection of the "iconic photos of the Carpenter from Nazareth"...
What photos do you think you'd find?
(I won't be working through these chronologically, but just as my imagination fires off ideas. As you read these, please try to imagine each "snapshot" as vividly as possible...)
Willing
Leprosy was considered to be so hard to cure that the Pharisees believed it was something only the Messiah could do.It was a horrible disease.
It alienated, disfigured and stigmatised.
Those who had it were feared, shunned and avoided.
The man should not have been there.
He must have been very courageous to face the crowd.
Imagine the backdrop:
The crowd pressing in around Jesus.
The man pressing through (maybe disguising his condition with long sleeves and a hooded robe)
Maybe people in the crowd wrinkled their noses as he passed, because those with leprosy often had horrible festering wounds.
Throwing himself down to kneel before Jesus and the crowd recoiling in horror.
Now there's a clearing in the crowd and in the middle: Jesus and the man.
"If You are willing You can make me clean."
(Voice breaking, eyes pleading.)
Flashbulb:Jesus touching the man's face in a tender gesture of love and compassion.
Eyes warm,
broad grin,
jaw set with determination!
"I am willing, boy am I willing!"
Sickness, brokenness and sadness are not part of God's perfect plan for us. The brokenness is the result of our rebellion. Jesus is on a Mission - "making everything new!"
Max Lucado has suggested that Jesus' first words when He returns in the second coming will be "NO MORE!"
Revelation 21:4 talking about this says:
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be NO MORE death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
PS: The recent Risen movie captures a sense of the reaction leprosy brought about in people... South African Director, Regard van den Berg and actor Bruce Marciano portrayed this snapshot beautifully in his Matthew Movie...
| Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be Clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. (Matthew8:3) |
