SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 14
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 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 8:3-4]
Here Jesus goes beyond the role of priest (who could only check to see if the person was healed), and actually heals.
Jesus touches the leper, and becomes unclean.
Yet both become clean.
Jesus tells the man to go through the elaborate “cleansing” ceremony described here – as a testimony that he is in fact healed.
Though it was a tedious process, I’m sure he didn’t mind, being healed after all.
OK, I admit it, I am getting tired of these readings.
What an elaborate system of dealing with the disease, and of getting clean.
I get that the disease were dangerous, but so much ritual and sacrifice to be declared clean – with guilt offerings, sin offerings, burnt and grain offerings.
The purification process for mildew makes more sense to me, though the offerings still seem to go overboard.
Just an opinion.
I suppose God had His reasons, and one day I will understand.
I like the image of the live bird being set free, after being anointed in the blood of the dead bird.
Free to fly in the open fields!
This is a great picture of the freedom that we have in Christ.
No specific application comes to mind, except maybe a huge ‘thank You’ to God that we no longer have to follow these practices, that Jesus has fulfilled these old testament laws.
Thank You God, thank You Jesus!
PRAYER:
Lord, I know that there were reasons for these strange (to me) laws. But even here, I honour Your wisdom over mine!
Rituals.
Do this and live. Follow these rules and you will live. If not, it will mean certain death.
But once again, it is not just what is on the outside that counts. That’s not the heart of the matter. It is what is on the inside that counts. That’s the heart of the matter. Those who have been healed – whether on the outside or inside – are once again included as part of the family.
And although there is all this ritual, it signifies once again that nothing but the blood of Christ can make a person whole again. Restoration can and does take place at a cost. The person has become whole again and is part of the family.
What reigns in my being? What is my home? What is central in my life? What’s my ‘cancer?’
Thank You Lord for the life in Christ Jesus. May I also be accepting of those whose hearts have also been turned ‘home’ by the working of Your Spirit.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.