Scripture Nugget 1.28.2017
Scripture Read – Matthew 8-10
Nugget 8:2-3, 5b-8, 13, 9:18b-c, 25b, 9:20-22, 10:1, 7-8a
“and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ’Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” … “a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. … And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go, let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour.” … “suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ …. He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.” … “The suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ’Take heart, daughter; you faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well.” ... “Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. … As you go proclaim the good news, ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”
Devotional thought: The healing power of Jesus is powerful stuff for me today. I have been sick most of the week with a horrible cough (which I’ve been plagued with since November) and a sinus headache (starting the 3d week of a 3 week round of antibiotics), so physical healing in the immediate sense is something I would like to happen. Long term truth is I’ve been afflicted with sinus stuff for years, nothing gets rid of the crud – I can identify with the woman afflicted for twelve years. Who else? Here’s the thing, Jesus chooses to heal, it is in his nature to respond, regardless of the request; to come and touch, to say the word, or a faith-filled stolen touch of his garment. Not only is Jesus willing to and choosing to heal; he shares that power and ability with his disciples. Now, I ask you, his disciples, how do you respond to the command, “go proclaim the good news, ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” This is a basic question of faith. How we respond matters! Are we willing to ask for physical healing? Are we willing to ask for great moves of the spirit within ourselves, our families, our local congregations, our communities, our states, our country and beyond? Have we asked? Jesus chooses to heal, it’s in His nature. There is so much brokenness in and around, why wouldn’t we ask for something really huge to happen?