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A Quiet Acknowledgement from Jesus

Text: Matthew 8 : 1 - 4

The leper had prostrated himself. He had called Jesus “Lord” thus acknowledging His supreme power. He was a liege bowing before his lord. He had begged Jesus for healing. Put together, all these things could mean only one thing. Jesus was no ordinary human being! He was Messiah no less! He was Divine too!

If Jesus was anything less than worthy of all that the leper attributed to Him, He would have had to refuse this public act of worship! Jesus quietly acknowledged the leper’s worship and then went on to do what a lord would have done if it were in his power. He was going to grant the request of the leper according to his words.

“Lord, if You are willing…”
Matthew 8:2

These words were met by,

“I am willing…”
Matthew 8:3

“You can make me clean…”
Matthew 8:2

Again there was a matching of the words of the request.

“…be cleansed.”
Matthew 8:3

The matching of the words of Jesus was intentional. The faith of the leper must be confirmed thus strengthening it further. The words of Jesus must have given a tremendous boost to whatever little faith the leper had.

But there was something else that was even more special and precious! Jesus reached forth His hand to touch him! A Lord does not have to touch his liege subject! A Lord was not obliged in any way to touch a humble servant. And this man was a leper!

Did the leper hold the Master’s hand in gratitude? Did he bring that hand to his lips to kiss? Did hot tears flow freely? How this Lord honored this miserable leper of a servant! He cared! He loved! He who preached that one must love his enemies loved this unclean leper! Jesus was Lord indeed and worthy of worship!

What power must have surged through his body as he was cleansed by the powerful word of Jesus! The leprous areas, the parts that could not feel anymore, now tingled with new sensitivity and strength! Tears came afresh as the leper looked at his hands, and felt his body! Yes, he was cleansed… and he was healed! Jesus had understood him. He had asked for cleansing when he meant healing! Jesus had kindly answered his request word for word! Who was this Jesus? Surely he must be worth following? Would he be allowed to be His disciple?

A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD?

What was the normal thing a servant should do after his Lord had spoken to him? Surely, the servant would quietly withdraw from His presence. The servant would not expect that his master would actually converse with him! That would be rare indeed. But that was exactly what Jesus did. He did not dismiss the leper after He healed him.

“And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you tell
no one; but go your way, show yourself to
the priest, and offer the gift that Moses
commanded, as a testimony to them.'”
Matthew 8:4

“See that you tell no one…”

The leper had come to Jesus with words that showed that he was a man of some insight. He recognized the power and authority of Jesus. He knew that Jesus could heal him if He wanted to do so.

It was now Jesus’ turn to speak to him in a cryptic way. Would he understand what was asked of him? Jesus did not want him to tell others about how he was healed. Did he understand the significance of these words -“Tell no one…” except of course the priest who must examine him and certify him free from leprosy. Only after the priest had declared him free from leprosy could he return to take his place in society.

What could Jesus mean? The leper had many leprous friends. Surely, he owed it to them to speak about how he was healed? His neighbours, his personal friends – surely all of them would want to find out how he was healed! How did Jesus mean His words to be understood, “Tell no one” ?

1. He must have meant that He did not want to be known only as a Healer.

2. He must have meant that He did not want to have hordes of sick people clamouring to be healed, surrounding Him.

3. He must have meant that He had a Mission to fulfill… and that was to preach about the kingdom of God!

It would be hard for the leper to keep quiet and tell no one. But there was no mistaking the quiet authority of Jesus behind those words. Yes, He was right. The Lord had even more important things to do than to merely go around healing people!

DOING THE NEEDFUL

Did not Jesus say that He had not come to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17)? Jesus upheld what He had taught. He instructed the erstwhile leper to do the needful. The laws of Israel required a leper to see the priest who also functioned as a medical officer. After he had been pronounced clean by the priest, he must be mindful to present “the gift that Moses had commanded, as a testimony to them” (Cf. Leviticus 14:1-32). Jesus remembered all that He had taught!