Hey y'all! This is the topic that I meant to talk about in my previous post, "My Favorite Parts of Luke - Part 1", but as I studied it deeper I came upon some awesome stuff that would have taken too much space in that format. So here we are - for better or for worse - lets jump right in! :P This is my second-favorite part of Luke so far, and it's in chapter 5, verses 12-14 and in 17:11-19. So, what was leprosy? Some people compare it in Jesus' day to cancer in ours - it was horrible and screwed with a lot of lives. And even worse, it was considered highly contagious. Since it was incurable until about the 1940s, the sick were thrown out and alienated - shunned - as is obviously portrayed in the New Testament. No one would have any thing to do with the "unclean" so they would stay as far away as possible, and never, under any circumstances, touch them (for good reason). But when Jesus comes on the scene, multiple instances mention lepers asking Him for healing, and of course He is always willing, so He heals them! Not only is their physical cleansing enough to radically change their lives, but Jesus also ministers to their emotional healing as well. But why would they need emotional healing that badly? I'm sure it must have really hurt the people, being shunned and alienated from anyone and everyone for such a long time. Like Jews, prostitutes and other groups people around this time, they were made to wear distinctive clothing, so everyone would instantly be aware of who and what they were. Lepers were forced to live outside the cities and/or in a separated area, and because of this, it was probably harder to get food, water and shelter. And just to make it worse, the religious people convinced everyone that they were suffering because of their own horrible sins. But taking time to fill in the blanks with our imaginations, between the facts mentioned, really adds deeper meaning and color to these people's circumstances for us - it makes it come alive. Here's where Jesus steps in... Obviously, Jesus is already aware of each leper's broken heart, and begins to heal them in different ways. In the second story I mentioned, the one with the ten, He meets them where they are. They aren't willing to go near Him, probably because of bad experiences, so He lets them stay at their distance and gives them instructions for their healing (which most likely required a lot of faith on their part). As they go and obey Him, the leprosy leaves their bodies and they're healed. It's just awesome to imagine the joy and excitement as they go the rest of the way to the priest to show themselves healed. But then one of them goes back to Jesus, as we all know, and doesn't stay at a distance this time. Instead, he goes and "throws himself at Jesus' feet and thanks Him" that's pretty cool. Here's why: How many of us feel distant from the Lord sometimes, and are refusing to get close to Him because of some kind of (maybe subconscious) fear? I've been there, and He meets you where you are in this aspect as well. But eventually, as we begin to be healed, we become more comfortable and start to inch closer and closer to Him. It's an effortless thing that just happens. It might not happen all at once for us, as it did with the Samaritan leper, but if we keep pursuing that relationship then we will get to that place - and He gives us however long we need, to do it. In the situation with the one leper, it doesn't mention that he stays at a distance, it just says that when he saw him "he fell with his face to the ground" and begged Him for healing - he didn't do anything to get closer to or to touch Him. But Jesus (love it when the 'but Jesus' part comes!) reaches out His hand and touches the man. Why is that significant? That's one of the parts I spent a little more time on. :P The original word that was translated "touch" is the Greek word "háptomai" (hap'-tom-ahee), which is similar to "attaching oneself to". It's also reflexive of the word "haptō" (hap'-to) which means to "properly fasten to" and "set on fire" as in "lighting or kindling a flame". (Which makes sense when considering the feeling of heat in many healing testimonies). But the first two definitions ("properly fasten to" and "attaching oneself to") really don't seem to portray Jesus barely and reluctantly poking the man's shoulder with his finger to get the healing done. But rather seems to paint the picture of Him pulling the man into a good hug, or at least putting his arm around him - out of overflowing love and compassion, and not out of have-to. Since he hadn't been around healthy people for a long time, much less touched or loved (as he is now being by Jesus), it probably came as quite a shock to the guy. It showed him the extent of Jesus' love for him - and the lack of fear for his disease. And even though I don't have a reference to match with this speculation, it seems like that would affect him - however much - on an emotional level. What do you think? Today, I want to encourage you to stop and meditate on (think or consider) a passage in Luke - anything you want. If it leads you to do some deeper studying, great! If not, that's fine too! Some parts of the Bible are just as they are written, and sometimes the best things we take away from a quiet time come from sitting quietly for a few minutes, and just talking to God about it. Say, "Lord, what do you want to teach me from this?" and then listen; He's got something for ya. Thanks for reading, y'all! Keep calm and quiz on (and out)! Your fellow quizzer, Mallory
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Trending Posts:Author:Mallory is a graduated Teen Bible Quizzer originally from the Southern region, moved to the Northwest, coaching quizzing over the book of Matthew. Check out our
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