Unclean
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:1-4
One thing that is tricky about reading the Bible is the cultural chasm between the original writings and today. The profound nature of what Jesus is doing in this passage just doesn’t translate well to us. But let me try to help.
We don’t have many homeless beggars in Wollongong. But you see a bunch when you go to Sydney. What do you do when you see them? What would you do if you could see they had some sort of skin disease? Do you avoid eye-contact? Do you walk on the other side of the street?
Jewish law actually required you to walk on the other side of the street. These people are considered unclean. Keep an eye out for our Leviticus series to understand unclean better.
The worst thing you could be as a Jew is unclean. You needed to do all sorts of things to be purified. And uncleanness was infectious. Even though Jesus probably wouldn’t get leprosy from touching this man - He would become ceremonially unclean.
Except, He doesn’t? Why? How is this possible?
Well, how did the unclean become clean? They needed to go to God’s Temple and be purified. Why can Jesus say, “Be clean”!? It’s because He is God’s temple. He is God’s purifying presence. He has the power to make someone clean.
Which is symbolic of what He has done for all of us. Not ceremonially, but in truth. We have been cleansed of our sins just like this man has been cleansed of his leprosy.
Today:
Pray:
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:1-4
One thing that is tricky about reading the Bible is the cultural chasm between the original writings and today. The profound nature of what Jesus is doing in this passage just doesn’t translate well to us. But let me try to help.
We don’t have many homeless beggars in Wollongong. But you see a bunch when you go to Sydney. What do you do when you see them? What would you do if you could see they had some sort of skin disease? Do you avoid eye-contact? Do you walk on the other side of the street?
Jewish law actually required you to walk on the other side of the street. These people are considered unclean. Keep an eye out for our Leviticus series to understand unclean better.
The worst thing you could be as a Jew is unclean. You needed to do all sorts of things to be purified. And uncleanness was infectious. Even though Jesus probably wouldn’t get leprosy from touching this man - He would become ceremonially unclean.
Except, He doesn’t? Why? How is this possible?
Well, how did the unclean become clean? They needed to go to God’s Temple and be purified. Why can Jesus say, “Be clean”!? It’s because He is God’s temple. He is God’s purifying presence. He has the power to make someone clean.
Which is symbolic of what He has done for all of us. Not ceremonially, but in truth. We have been cleansed of our sins just like this man has been cleansed of his leprosy.
Today:
- Do you feel/recognise the uncleanness of sin? When and how?
- Reflect on sins committed this week.
- Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to make you clean.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is without sin.
- Give thanks for Jesus who has the authority and the perfection to make us clean.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others recognise the reality of sin.
Posted in Matthew
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