Daily Bible Verse 101: JESUS TOUCHED THE LEPER AND HEALED HIM.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

JESUS TOUCHED THE LEPER AND HEALED HIM.

"A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

"Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”

"The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

"Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

"The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.” (Mark 1: 40 - 45).

Thursday 11th January 2024 of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time.

Below is an interesting rendition of our key Scripture for today.

"On one occasion, a leper came and threw himself down in front of Jesus, pleading for his healing, saying, “You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!” (Mark 1: 40 TPT).

Note the following:

The leper threw himself down in front of Jesus. A gesture of worship. He did not just ask but pleaded for his healing.

Then he added:

The punchline.

“You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!” An expression of faith.

Let us make some observations from what we have learned about Jesus from the Gospels:

#1. Jesus is always ready to do good.

#2. Jesus heals everyone who comes to Him in faith.

#3. Jesus did not heal all the lepers in Israel. He healed only those who come to Him in faith and reverence. Ask and Receive.

#4. The Bible teaches: "The nearer you go to Jesus, the nearer He comes to you." (Cf James 4: 7-8,10).

#5. What will happen if you pray with the same desperation and faith and reverence as the leper?

#6. If today you hear Jesus speaking to you, harden not your heart. (Cf Psalm 95).Remember the leper heard about Jesus and believed what he heard and got up to search for Jesus.

St Damien of Molokai is known as the Leper Priest. He contracted leprosy while ministering to lepers. He was not healed by Jesus. He said this:

"The Eucharist is the bread that gives strength... It is at once the most eloquent proof of His love and the most powerful means of fostering His love in us. He gives Himself every day so that our hearts as burning coals may set afire the hearts of the faithful." (St Damien of Molokai, the Leper Priest).

Nobody who comes to Jesus is turned away. Seek out Jesus today with expectant and confident faith and He will heal you of something in accordance with His merciful love.