Of everything I read today, it was the last line that really grabbed me.
Before I get to that, I want to make a quick note of everything that happens in today’s reading so I don’t forget.
Man healed of leprosy, The Roman Officer’s servant is healed, The widow’s son is raised from the dead, John The Baptists Disciples visit, Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman.
The man who was healed is significant in that he is commanded to follow the Old Testament law regarding confirmation of healing. This tells us that Jesus isn’t “doing away with the Law”. If you want to rejoin your family, you must first offer the appropriate sacrifices and the priest must pronounce you “clean”. While that may seem outdated to us, let me suggest a new way of looking at it: This man was “saved” or “made new” by Jesus independent of any contact with the temple or sacrifice. Yet, he is sent to the temple after being transformed, so that his condition and the words of the priests will be a testimony to many. Is it possible that we are seeing the function of the temple in the future age? Salvation is found in Jesus alone…but will the resurrected and returning Christ direct us to a place on earth where we can offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to Almighty God? Here’s another perspective on that same thought: If Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:21-23 that “a time is coming when it won’t matter whether you worship on this mountain or in Jerusalem…” and “a time is coming…indeed it’s here now” Did you catch that? It’s here NOW. Then why did Jesus send this man healed of leprosy to worship in Jerusalem…why not simply accept his thanks and worship right where he was? Hmm… worth “mulling over”, right?
The Roman Officer: this guy is significant because he’s not Jewish, and the Gospel is being narrowly focused on the Jews at this moment in time. He has been so kind to the Jews that they are pleading his case for him…talk about a “benevolent predator”….remind me someday to talk about what “benevolent predators” are. But this soldier has had a serious change of heart: he isn’t asking for himself, but for a servant. He has committed serious resources to furthering the kingdom, and he is so humble with regard to God that he doesn’t feel worthy to have the Lord even come into his home. This is a man who commanded hundreds, perhaps more. Think of it… a leper felt comfortable enough to approach Jesus face to face and ask for healing for himself…..and this guy isn’t comfortable meeting Jesus face to face to ask for help for a third party. That’s true humility. The account of the Roman Officer reminds us that salvation is for everyone, and it shows an appropriate model of faith, humility and works all working together to produce a “living faith”.
I don’t think too much about the widow’s son being raised from the dead. When we talk about the dead raised, my thoughts go to Lazarus. Why wouldn’t this account be treated with the same dignity as the Lazarus account? One reason: it’s the amount of time that has passed since he died. The Jews believed the spirit remained with the body for several days, during which time the body was placed in tomb to decompose. After decomposing, the bone would be removed, cleaned and piled in a different place with the bones of the ancestors. This man has recently passed, so they felt that his spirit was “close by”. Lazarus had been dead for at least 4 days….the spirit was long gone, and the body had begun to decompose. In their minds, that was a greater miracle. In my mind, they are both equally miraculous. Nothing is too difficult for God!
There are two things I think about in the visit of John’s disciples: 1. Jesus confirms that “he is the one” without actually saying it. I find that funny, because he seems to have no problem telling a Samaritan woman “I who speak to you am He”. But he doesn’t give John the same privilege! Perhaps it has something to do with his comment in Luke 7:23 “God blesses those who don’t fall away on account of me”. Why would anyone fall away because of Jesus? Wouldn’t you think that speaking with Him would draw you closer? That is true, except for one thing: You and I have already accepted that Jesus is the Son of God. In the first century they were asked to believe that God had appeared in human form from within a family that they knew. The temptation for them would be to deny the deity of Christ…to call Him a prophet, instead of God. “What you do with Jesus (who you believe that He is) makes all the difference in eternity” 2. John marks the pinnacle of what we can achieve as humans. Jesus says there isn’t anyone ever born who was greater than John. And yet, John is curious to know if Jesus is the Messiah….or if he is another prophet sent to help “pave the way”. This is John the Baptist asking….the man who correctly identified who Jesus was at the time of His baptism. What it tells me is that John must have had some preconceived notions about what the Messiah would do, and how he would behave, just like the rest of the Jews. The only difference is that John was willing to accept that Jesus was doing more, and different things than John believed He would. If John needed a reassurance because Jesus was more than what was expected…then I shouldn’t feel bad when I need an occasional reassurance myself.
And now for the best part: The sinful woman displays the same humility and sacrifice as the Roman Officer. She doesn’t ask anything, in fact she doesn’t ever say a word that we know of. For the longest time Jesus doesn’t acknowledge her, either. But when he does, He tells her that her sins are forgiven. He says “Your faith has saved you, go in peace”. This woman demonstrates what true repentance looks like. It doesn’t have to be received kneeling at an altar, or even in the church. Being adopted into God’s family can only happen after we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is the product of repentance, and when repentance is genuine it is accompanied by some outward demonstration. That may be kneeling at an altar, or it may be pouring perfume on the feet of Jesus. By her actions this woman reveals her true thoughts about who Jesus is. She cries because she is ashamed, and knows she is impure…in the presence of someone who is both pure and holy. She pours the perfume because she recognizes the power and authority of God. If He chooses to be benevolent, she could find favor with Him….after all, He has shown mercy and compassion to others…
I will consider my life a huge success if at the end of my days I can only hear what this woman heard “Your faith has saved you”. Oh! What wonders and glory await those who hear these words from Christ! “Lord, may every action and every activity in which I am involved be either tears or perfume on your feet”.
Faithfully,
PR