The gracious merciful Jesus touches my contamination

Rev Enoch Thompson | MARCH 6, 2023 | MATTHEW 8:1-4

KEY VERSE:

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured b of his leprosy. Matthew 8:3 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

From the mount of instruction, the Lord Jesus descended into the valley of human needs. In Matthew chapters 8 and 9 we will meet the Lord in the valley of human affliction and demonstrating His power to save by His miracles. His miracles were to show compassion to human suffering, to endorse His credentials and to reveal saving truth to His observers and followers.

Among the large crowds that followed Him, who had listened to His Kingdom message, there was a leprous man who sought the assistance of the Lord, and requested, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Matt 8:2 (NIV). This individual man in need is representative of humanity contaminated by sin and negatively affected by life’s challenges.

Leprosy was a contagious disease which rendered the person suffering from it ceremonially unclean and an outcast from Jewish society. They were to live on the outskirts of town, and when people drew near to them, they were to announce their contaminated and contaminating presence by shouting “Unclean, unclean.” Those who were not infected were not allowed to touch the leprous. What a life of pain, physical and emotional. The leprosy of sin has affected all of humanity, so the Bible teaches us (Rom. 3:23). We were born sinners and are unclean before God.

When we come to the Lord in humble acknowledgement of our need for help, like this man did, He does reach out to us in ways that change our circumstances and set us free to live a new life. It is astonishing that “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.” (verse 3). That is the wondrous beauty of what God is willing to do for anyone who acknowledges their need, for spiritual cleansing in the first place, but also for any and all needs of life.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

For some people, life has dealt the hard blows that make us feel unwanted, undeserving, and hopeless. For some others, the feeling of guilt and shame has made life depressive. For whatever state of need we may find ourselves in at any time, let us remember that if we cry out to the Lord Jesus, He will reach out to us, touch us and meet our needs.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus, I ask you to reach out to me as I seek to attain my right standing in society. Above all make me worthy to stand before the Heavenly Father, by your touch and your embrace. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!