“Then Jesus said to him, ‘…[G]o, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’”
Matthew 8:4
Tragically, sin in this world harms our relationship with God and with others. Sometimes the damage is a direct result of our actions; other times the brokenness of life in a fallen world leaves us isolated and outside of God’s community. If we were living in Old Testament times, the ceremonial laws of uncleanness would be forefront in our lives. Eating the wrong food could make us unclean. So could touching a dead body or having a skin disease. The unclean could not socialize with the community and could not join in public worship until they were clean again.
Jesus addresses the social aspect of life in a broken world, as well as the legal aspect of our sin. When He heals the leper, He sends him to the temple so that he could officially be restored to the community.
Do you know that He does the same for us? By His death He restores us to a right relationship with God. Daily, He is undoing the cursed aspects of the world. Jesus alone heals hearts and relationships, restoring us to community with His people.
Jesus addresses the social aspect of life in a broken world, as well as the legal aspect of our sin. When He heals the leper, He sends him to the temple so that he could officially be restored to the community.
Do you know that He does the same for us? By His death He restores us to a right relationship with God. Daily, He is undoing the cursed aspects of the world. Jesus alone heals hearts and relationships, restoring us to community with His people.
Scripture Focus
Leviticus 13:45-46, 14:8-11
Insight
“The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’” (Acts 10:15)
Bible In A Year
- Jeremiah 13-14
- Psalm 110
- Romans 11-12
