JP15: FINDING JESUS' BEST WHEN WE'RE AT OUR WORST

Have you ever felt too far away from God to find your way back to him?  Has life surrounded you so that the leading light of heaven appears dim?  Have trusted friends let you down, leaving you isolated in the unknown? If so, you’re not alone.  And, you can make your way back to joy because,

Jesus Reveals His Best When We’re At Our Worst.

We find this liberating truth at work in real life when Jesus kindly pours out his love on a lonely, desperate, and diseased outcast of a man.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. Mark 1:40-45

Jesus Can Restore Anyone

The leprous man learned that no one is too far gone, too obscure, or too alone to escape the searching love and compassion of Jesus.

He lived with a dreadful appearance, constant pain, and suffering every day without relief.  If this anguish were not enough, lepers were considered unclean according to the law of Moses, making him an outcast to Jewish society, unable to socialize with the larger population freely, and without close friendships.  But, having observed Jesus from a distance, he grew to have faith that Jesus could make him clean.  

Perhaps he thought, “If Jesus has authority over demons, then he must also have authority over diseases too.”  Convinced of Jesus's power to heal, the leper boldly makes his way to our Lord. Unlike the religious insiders, the leper approaches Jesus with great humility.

Desperate for healing, he carefully lowers himself to his knees, causing the puss-filled lesions to press painfully into the ground. The man speaks with Jesus in a way that reveals his belief while unassumingly asking Jesus to make him clean. "If you will, you can make me clean," he says.

There's no sign of entitlement. The leper had nothing to offer Jesus - no money, status, or the means for hospitality.  Any healing he received would come by the grace and authority of Jesus alone, not based on his Jewish heritage.

Jesus Elevates Relationships Over Rituals

Moved with compassion, Jesus disregards the ceremonial laws against touching an unclean leper and physically touches the man’s scarred, broken, and highly contagious skin. He openly speaks for him to be clean, and all at once, the man is free from pain, suffering, and scarred appearance.  

His healing selflessly broke the man’s chains of disease and made clear his deity, power, and authority for generations of future followers.

Jesus did not just perform miracles to gain the spotlight. Instead, his powerful work revealed that he not only has authority over demons but also over diseases.  Jesus wants to enter into our suffering, loneliness, and pain in a personal way to apply his mighty rule, restoring our health and making us fit for service in his Kingdom.  

As with the leprous man, Jesus wants to heal our diseases today.  The same authority he exercised over leprosy is available to us.

Jesus Wants To Heal Others Through You

As we engage our friends and neighbors with hospitality and service, boldly pray with them, asking God to heal their pain, suffering, and disease. Then, in the same way that Jesus revealed his authority by healing illnesses, he can reveal himself to a hardened neighbor in need of tangible evidence of heaven's leading Light.  

Let us follow the example of the leprous man and humbly come to Jesus with our pasts, pain, suffering, and disease.  Allow him to meet us in our isolation and provide consolations specific to our unique needs.   Faithfully wait for his healing touch, and you will find his loving best.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge your presence in my suffering and pain. You are very near, not far.  I have scars that won’t heal on their own and need your tender touch.  Jesus, if you will, heal me today and lead me onto a path of holiness for your name’s sake.  Thank you for healing me.  Help me to bring healing to those around me in need of your great love. Amen.

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Finding Jesus' Best When We’re at Our Worst

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1. Faithfully Trust In Jesus To Heal and Restore.

“No unbelief made him (Moses) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21

2. Humbly Bring Your Needs To Jesus.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7

3. Patiently Wait For Jesus To Answer.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Psalms 127:1-2

4. Kindly Comfort Others With Jesus’ Answers To Your Pain.  Moving on from life’s worst involves investing in others.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4