the leper and Jesus

leprosy takes limbs and eats skin and touching a leper risks contagion. my last post was thoughtful about Jesus' sitting down to counsel and instruct and reach the many on the mountain in matthew 5-7. chapter eight opens with His kind touch. verse three says Jesus touched the leper who came to Him. "and immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

right now in our culture...in the news...we are hearing lots daily about a virus that can kill. hospitals are training workers to levels of protective wear caution with crazy intensity. just makes me think of Jesus' touch as all the more real and full of compassion and...without gloves or gown or precautions. of course He knew He was not risking his skin, but what He also knew...this guy hadn't been touched in likely years. His hand-on-hand or hand-on-arm expression of it is ok. this pain is over. I am overjoyed to end it ...and not afraid to touch you.

think of His hand and His compassion in your struggle today, friend. the leper came to Him. he approached Jesus courageously, and this real life story says Jesus' response was healing. believe He has compassion toward you today. james says (4:8a), "draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." 

approach Him in your brokenness and know He has compassion over you, friend. He is near. phil. 4:5b.

and...He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. psalm 147:3.