Matthew 8:1-17 (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16; Luke 7:1-10; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41)
Comprehension
Jesus has just walked down the mountain after giving the sermon on the mount. Jesus cleanses a leper, heals the centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and many others. The unclean leper recognized Jesus as a "holy man" by saying "if you will, you can heal me." As a leper, he would have known that he should not come in such close contact with him. But Jesus touched him, and said "I will. Be clean." Then Jesus encouraged the man to go first to the priest and fulfill the law that required a leper to be declared clean. (Leviticus 14) The centurion showed great faith by recognizing Jesus could heal his sick servant from far away. Jesus praised him for his great faith. Jesus healed sickness--physical, mental, and emotional.
Interpretation
When Jesus agreed to heal the leper, He showed great compassion by touching Him, which was forbidden. When He commanded the cleansed leper to go to the priest before telling anyone, Jesus was confirming that His mission wasn't to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He also didn't want the priests to say He was undermining their God-given authority to pronounce the man physically and ceremonially clean, according to the law given through Moses. The ROMAN centurion, a natural enemy of the Israelites, came asking for healing for his servant. Jesus agreed, which was scandalous enough, but then He PRAISED the faith of the centurion. He said He had not seen faith like this in all of Israel!! Jesus is paving the way for the idea that His mission is not for Israelites alone, but for anyone who would come to Him in allegiance.
Application
Living through a pandemic can bring similar mindsets as those faced by lepers. There seems to be so much secrecy surrounding people who have covid (mostly thanks to HIPAA!) and even anger towards those who have it. This would be the closest we could get to understanding the utter gratefulness that the man with leprosy felt at the touch from Jesus and his ultimate healing. The man showed great faith in saying "I know you can if you will." The centurion was not the typical religious man, but he also knew that Jesus could if He would. This is where the call to follow hits hard for me. I might have judged Jesus for touching the leper or even interacting with a Roman soldier. I don't have the ability to heal, but I do have the ability to reach out and show The Gospel to those who are hurting.
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