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Jesus was moved with compassion. Jesus did not move away as the rabbis would have. He probably moved closer. When the leper said,
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” he used an important Greek word for “will.” There are two basic Greek words for “will.” The first one has the sense of a rational decision, but the second one has the sense of an “emotional choice.” This last one is the word that the leper used. He appealed to Jesus’ emotions. He appealed to Jesus’ passion, and Jesus responded with emotion.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that Jesus stretched out His hand and as He touched him said, “I am willing.”
And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. (NASB) Luke 5:13 Immediately, the leprosy left him. He was instantly healed. He did not need to wait for his healing. He was not in the process of being healed. He was healed!
Do Not Tell. Jesus then commanded the healed man not to tell anyone except for the priest. Jesus knew that he had to go to the priest in order to be pronounced cured and be allowed back in the city according to the Mosaic Law (Lev. 13-14).
And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away . . . (NASB) Mark 1:43 And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (NASB) Luke 5:14 Before the man left, Jesus sternly warned him not to tell others about his healing. The Greek word for “sternly” is a strong one and implies that Jesus spoke very strongly to him. Jesus did not want this miracle healing to be known among the population, but the healed man told others anyway.
But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. (NASB) Luke 5:15 The healed man eagerly told his story and like lightening the wonderful news spread. Large crowds came to listen to the Word of God and to be healed. Have you noticed that the people came first to hear the Word of God and then to be healed? This is a pattern that we are seeing. The Word of God is the priority, not fellowship and not singing. Fellowship and singing to God are important, but they are not the priority. Every time Jesus meets the crowds, He teaches first and heals second. It is a message for us. The Word of God is the priority. It is amazing how many churches devote only thirty minutes or less to the teaching of His Word today. Forty-five to sixty minutes used to be the standard. It reveals that the commitment to teaching His Word in many churches has been watered down. Jesus’ priority was the teaching. |
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| Life & Heart of Jesus | |||||
