Healing a leper

Bible Passage: Matt 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45

Although I have read the 4 gospel books many times, I still marvel at the faiths of the people who asked Jesus to heal them.

Today we read about the leper who Jesus cleansed. The leper had characteristics that allowed him to be part of Jesus’ miracles.

These serve as reminders to our faiths today.

1. Humility

The leper asked Jesus if He was willing to heal him. He knew Jesus had great power and could heal him instantly, but he also understood that it is only when Jesus was willing will he be cleansed.

Even though for many many years he suffered pain and sores all over his body, he did not demand that Jesus heal him at once. Instead of grabbing Jesus by the arm pleading to be healed, he worshipped Him instead.

In my opinion, if Jesus’ will was not for him to be healed, he would gladly accept it and continue to worship God for the rest of his life.

In our prayers, are we humble as well? Do we ask God if He is willing to help us, or do we demand that God help us? Do we sometimes think that since God is almighty He should be able to help us immediately and give us what we think is good for us? Do we feel that since we are His children, we are worthy of His blessings?

Hence in our prayers, we need to be humble and submit to God’s will. In every request, we should seek that the Lord’s will be done, instead of OUR will be done.

2.  Simple yet strong faith

The leper was probably uneducated and poor, his bible knowledge far less superior to the bible scholars and priests in those days. However, he had such simple yet great faith that Jesus had the power to heal Him.

For us who are born in church or have been in church for a long time, do we still hold fast to our faiths when we meet with trials and tribulations?

Despite the countless sermons and RE lessons we have attended, could we still stand firm when troubles come our way? Can we still firmly believe in those verses we read from our bibles?

Hence, although today’s reading is very short, it serves as a constant reminder to us to hold firm to our faiths and be humble. We are already very blessed to be part of God’s household.

With great multitudes of people following Jesus, it must be difficult to get Jesus’ attention. However it is a comfort to know that Jesus knows each of us inside out.

He knows all of us by our names, He knows the number of hair strands on our heads, He knows what we are really thinking.

Despite our rotten and sinful cores, He still continues to love every one of us dearly and is ready to bless us.

He will never forsake anyone.