Page 44 - Living Light Spring 2024

Wednesday April 17 - Falling at Jesus’ feet
He fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12
As we’ve seen this week, Jesus often went to ‘lonely places’ to pray. In the Bible, ‘lonely places’ means ‘wilderness’ – empty scrublands, where no-one lives, and nothing much grows. Yet, God uses ‘the wilderness’ as a place where faith is tested and matured: he led his people through the wilderness ‘to humble and test’ them (Deuteronomy 8:2) and supremely, ‘Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1).
The wilderness is a tough place to be – but there God draws us close, to stir and grow our faith. Today’s Bible verse introduces us to a desperate, ‘unclean’ man, covered with leprosy, who has been forced to live in the wilderness, as an outcast from society, friends and family.
In desperation, he breaks the Jewish quarantine laws by entering the town, and approaches Jesus! Scandalised townsfolk must surely have stepped back in fear and disgust! But in the wilderness this man has learned something that many others haven’t – for he calls Jesus “Lord”, recognising Jesus’ true status, and his power to cleanse and heal!
In a desperate act of faith and humility, he comes within touching distance of Jesus. Then, suddenly, acutely aware of his own uncleanness, he falls to the ground, not daring to look up, and thinking, “will Jesus want to cleanse... me?”
Precious Lord Jesus, please cleanse my heart today, I pray. ‘Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God...’ (Psalm 5:1-2). Amen.
Thursday April 18 - Jesus is willing
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.
“Be clean!” Luke 5:13
Jesus does the unthinkable – he touches the unclean man... then heals him! Jesus shows the depth of his compassion, and does what no-one else in the world can do. A rabbi would become ‘ritually unclean’ himself by touching someone with leprosy; Jesus demonstrates that he is no ordinary rabbi, but the very Son of God, who heals with a word, and cleanses without becoming unclean. Just one touch from the Lord Jesus cleansed the man’s body and renewed his life!
In today’s broken world, we will have ‘wilderness experiences’ – being cut off, perhaps, from loved ones by sickness, bereavement, or imprisonment... or even ‘outcast’ in our community, or at work, for our faith in Christ. Our ‘wilderness testing’ place is tough, but when we cry out to the Lord Jesus, it becomes a place of prayer, where Jesus draws us close and deepens our faith. In the face of God’s absolute holiness, we become more aware of our own uncleanness; but no matter how messed- up we are, Jesus will not reject an act of humble, repentant faith. His love knows no bounds, and never ends... he proved it on the cross. He says, “I am willing. Be clean!”
‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18); “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Lord Jesus, you willingly went to the cross for me... and now I am clean! Thank you! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY