Text: Luke 5:12-16
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast…” Jeremiah 30:17
During our honeymoon on Hilton Head Island, Cindy and I were strolling along the beach one sunrise when we came upon a dog owner walking two of the homeliest looking dogs I had ever seen. Their names were Peaches and Herb. I omit naming the breed so as not to offend anyone… perhaps you have one in your home!
Cindy, the dog lover of all dog lovers, knelt to pet these cringe canines with a kind of tenderness I just couldn’t understand. It was a display of uncanny affection that would’ve made my precious, adorable, and flawless cat vomit!
Did you know one of the definitions of the verb “to pet” is to treat with unusual kindness and consideration?
I’ve learned throughout my lifetime I have something in common with Peaches and Herb. God has condescended himself affectionately toward me with such displays of unusual kindness, even when I have been unattractive to myself, homely to others, and explicitly undeserving of His grace. To the chagrin of people who may find me annoying or irritating, God has “petted” my life with unusual, humbling, and merciful kindness.
Jesus broke through every religious barrier and social construct to display unusual kindness to the outcast, regardless of their repulsive features, ceremonial uncleanness, or awkward personality linings. He healed people with disabilities, embraced lepers, and dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus loved the easiest people to despise. We see one of these outcasts desperately approaching Jesus in Luke 5:12-16.
He was a man “full of leprosy.” In other words, he didn’t just have a minor case of the skin disease, it was all over him. People with leprosy in biblical times were forced to live outside of community because of the highly contagious nature of their disease. Just having this guy hanging around the peripheral would’ve made the “social acceptables” uncomfortable, and it led to strong rebukes from the religious elites. But Jesus wasn’t like them, nor did he fit into their legalistic box.
Do you ever feel like a spiritual leper? Maybe you are mistreated, overlooked, or looked down upon. You are keenly aware of other people’s irritation with your personality and constantly feel judged, even condemned. Maybe you have a hard time fitting in with certain religious people because you don’t check all the boxes of what their perceived version of a good Christian looks like. You’re frustrated with the expectations of others pressuring you to perform a particular way. Perhaps you’re a single mom trying to navigate your family in a culture putting all the emphasis on “men leading their families,” but you don’t have … a man. You’re having a hard time fitting in and can’t talk about the elephant in the room. May I reassure you today that Jesus knows exactly where you are, and you are NOT an outcast to him.
The Good News in this leper’s story is the same Good News in your story. Jesus “touched” the man, and instead of the leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus made the leper clean. Jesus sees you like my wife saw Peaches and Herb on the beach that day, even when dog Pharisees like me are repulsed by the divine display of unusual kindness. Jesus loves you too much to leave you alone, marginalized, and cast off. He’s not intimidated by any of your uncleanness.
Get beyond all your feelings of rejection, hurt, shame, and the push back from others, and passionately implore Jesus to help you like he did for the leper that day. This week, drown out the distractions, doubts, and disparagements and simply abide in Him and His truth about who you are, and whose you are.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you have loved me in the most unlovable times. You have graced me when I didn’t deserve such unusual kindness. You have given me a place of belonging when others didn’t think I belong. You have touched my life, and I have been transformed. Thank you for never being intimidated by my uncleanness, but being the unchanging God who is constantly changing me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
- How can we not talk about dogs and cats?! Which do you prefer?
- When have you felt like a leper? Why?
- In what ways has Jesus healed your life?
- Are you seeing the spiritual lepers around you today? What is a practical step you can take to demonstrate unusual kindness to someone this week?
- What areas of your life need God’s healing touch right now? Spend some time seeking Him for healing in these areas. Ask Jesus how he wants you to rightly steward that healing in community with others.
Text: Luke 5:12-16
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast…” Jeremiah 30:17
During our honeymoon on Hilton Head Island, Cindy and I were strolling along the beach one sunrise when we came upon a dog owner walking two of the homeliest looking dogs I had ever seen. Their names were Peaches and Herb. I omit naming the breed so as not to offend anyone… perhaps you have one in your home!
Cindy, the dog lover of all dog lovers, knelt to pet these cringe canines with a kind of tenderness I just couldn’t understand. It was a display of uncanny affection that would’ve made my precious, adorable, and flawless cat vomit!
Did you know one of the definitions of the verb “to pet” is to treat with unusual kindness and consideration?
I’ve learned throughout my lifetime I have something in common with Peaches and Herb. God has condescended himself affectionately toward me with such displays of unusual kindness, even when I have been unattractive to myself, homely to others, and explicitly undeserving of His grace. To the chagrin of people who may find me annoying or irritating, God has “petted” my life with unusual, humbling, and merciful kindness.
Jesus broke through every religious barrier and social construct to display unusual kindness to the outcast, regardless of their repulsive features, ceremonial uncleanness, or awkward personality linings. He healed people with disabilities, embraced lepers, and dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus loved the easiest people to despise. We see one of these outcasts desperately approaching Jesus in Luke 5:12-16.
He was a man “full of leprosy.” In other words, he didn’t just have a minor case of the skin disease, it was all over him. People with leprosy in biblical times were forced to live outside of community because of the highly contagious nature of their disease. Just having this guy hanging around the peripheral would’ve made the “social acceptables” uncomfortable, and it led to strong rebukes from the religious elites. But Jesus wasn’t like them, nor did he fit into their legalistic box.
Do you ever feel like a spiritual leper? Maybe you are mistreated, overlooked, or looked down upon. You are keenly aware of other people’s irritation with your personality and constantly feel judged, even condemned. Maybe you have a hard time fitting in with certain religious people because you don’t check all the boxes of what their perceived version of a good Christian looks like. You’re frustrated with the expectations of others pressuring you to perform a particular way. Perhaps you’re a single mom trying to navigate your family in a culture putting all the emphasis on “men leading their families,” but you don’t have … a man. You’re having a hard time fitting in and can’t talk about the elephant in the room. May I reassure you today that Jesus knows exactly where you are, and you are NOT an outcast to him.
The Good News in this leper’s story is the same Good News in your story. Jesus “touched” the man, and instead of the leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus made the leper clean. Jesus sees you like my wife saw Peaches and Herb on the beach that day, even when dog Pharisees like me are repulsed by the divine display of unusual kindness. Jesus loves you too much to leave you alone, marginalized, and cast off. He’s not intimidated by any of your uncleanness.
Get beyond all your feelings of rejection, hurt, shame, and the push back from others, and passionately implore Jesus to help you like he did for the leper that day. This week, drown out the distractions, doubts, and disparagements and simply abide in Him and His truth about who you are, and whose you are.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you have loved me in the most unlovable times. You have graced me when I didn’t deserve such unusual kindness. You have given me a place of belonging when others didn’t think I belong. You have touched my life, and I have been transformed. Thank you for never being intimidated by my uncleanness, but being the unchanging God who is constantly changing me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion: