Daily Bread

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 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. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’

God makes a conscious decision to reach out in love to creation, including us, and it might be a good idea to reflect on the fact that God chooses to reach out to us.

Love and freewill go hand-in-hand, and yes, God is by very nature loving. Jesus expressed this love through selfless sacrifice, and the Spirit living in us is always looking to the interests of others, but love never overrides free will, and this includes God's free will. God freely chooses to love us, and that makes God's love even more special. It is a reminder that God is not some kind of automatic loving machine, but that there is a sentient, conscious choice behind God's expressions of love.

Jesus told his disciples, "You did not choose me but I chose you." (John 15.16). This is not Jesus overriding our wills, but a reminder that God first chose to love us, then extended that love to us through Christ, and this leads us back to the story.

Lepers were not only 'unwell' but considered to be 'unclean' in the eyes of the law. Associating with lepers could also make someone 'unclean' and there were purity rights and observances to make oneself clean again, such that one could then approach the throne of God. Therefore, the healing of the man with leprosy was not only a wonderful and compassionate healing, but it is a metaphor for God choosing, through Christ, to make humanity clean and holy.

I'm not sure why Jesus told the man not to tell anyone, and I should probably do some research (but it's late and I'm tired). Perhaps Jesus knew people would not believe him? Perhaps Jesus was working with the system where only the priest could declare someone 'clean'? Or, perhaps, this was all part of the story, because the man, being made clean, could now approach the throne of God in the temple? His relationship with God had been restored, and this was part of the metaphor where we too, being made clean through Christ, can approach boldly the throne of God.

Today, remember that God doesn't just love you but chooses to love you, and that there is nothing you can do to change God's mind on the matter. How great is that?

Holy God
I kneel before you,
thankful that you have chosen
to make me clean and holy
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Thank you that I can approach boldly
your throne, and stand before you,
washed in your self-giving love
and sanctified by your eternal grace.
May all praise and honour
and glory be to you,
now and forever.