Introduction
Again, welcome to the podcast where I share random thoughts through a biblical lens that helps along life’s journey. Today’s randomness is my short story of a leper’s healing found in Matthew 8:2 and entitled,
An Outcast Meets Grace
What would ultimately be the most well-known sermon in the planet's history—the Sermon on the Mount—had just been completed. The mountainside crowd was captivated and buzzed with testimony as, “Never a man spoke like this man,” bounced from person to person while Grace made His way down the mount.
The crowd followed Him further, desiring to hear more, recounting the blessings of beatitudes and the authority with which He spoke. His “Verily, verily I say unto you…” rang deep inside their spirit. Yes, the law had been given by Moses, but grace and truth had spoken on this day.
Then, amongst all the wonder, it happened. As an astonished and collective hush fell over the crowd, the helplessness of the law stood before Grace and asked a question as “a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2 NASB).
The crowd froze as the coldness of the Law spoke to the warmth of Grace, and wondered what Grace would do. The law had already spoken; it could do nothing more than identify the disease as Rabbinic practice would rationalize that sin caused the sickness and would most certainly never salute it.
“If you are willing,” the Outcast asked Grace, “You can make me clean.” Then, with great respect to the law — for it had brought this outcast to grace, Grace spoke in omnipotence, “I am willing” and the leper was cleansed immediately. Here is the humble truth: Wherever there is the will of God — “I am willing,” Jesus said — there is always His power to fulfill it.
Sin makes outcasts of us all, but there is the law of God that makes us privy to that sin, and then leads us to its end: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4 NASB). And it is an end that has a ‘willing’ power, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 KJV).
Close
Thank you for listening today; if you wish to dive deeper into readjohnpace you can read my weekly blog (posted on Thursdays) at readjohnpace.com; or on Buy Me a Coffee at BuyMeaCoffee/readjohnpace, where on Monday and Wednesday, more randomness occurs for your reading pleasure.
Until next time remember to “keep the pace—readjohnpace!”