OBSERVATION:
As with Naaman (1 Kings 5:1-27), it is the outcast (or outsider) who believes, while others who should believe don’t.
Jesus is moved by compassion, this is the basis of all that He (and God) does.
Jesus commands the man to fulfill the law of Moses because they are still under that covenant, and will be until He is crucified, and the curtain is torn (Luke 23:45).
“As a testimony to them”, the Jewish leaders, to show that He was the promised Messiah promised by Moses, to fulfill the law and the prophets.
Here Jesus commands silence again to keep the crowds away, they hindered His purpose.
APPLICATION:
The Lord is able, but He is not always willing to heal, He acts towards His ultimate purpose (or will).
Some are not immediately healed, but all who believe are ultimately healed.
Jesus abides by the law of Moses while He lived on earth (“born under the law”, Galatians 4:4-5) – was circumcised, observed Sabbath, went to temple, paid tithe, offered sacrifices; these are not commands for new covenant believers (Colossians 3:16-17)
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for your compassion, for stooping down to those considered unacceptable (unclean) and being willing to touch, to love and to heal us. Thank You for Your amazing grace! Amen.
It never ceases to be astounding to see our society today working so hard to get bigger houses, larger properties, bigger cars, etc. The more we have, or the larger of something we have, the higher our social status. All these bigger and better, worthless, material objects for one goal, recognition. We’re not happy unless every little good deed we do gets noticed. Granted, this doesn’t apply to every person in each circumstance, but generally, it does. How many of us today go out of our way to do something nice for somebody and make a point of not making it known? I’m reminded of a quote from the newest Johnny Cash release “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”, it goes “surely what is done in the dark will be brought to the light.” Generally we automatically apply that to the bad things we do being made known. However, I believe it goes both ways, anything good we do in the dark will also be brought to the ligh. I guess it just depends when you want your recognition, now, or much more worthwhile, later, when God’s timing is right to make it known.