Live a Life of Love: A Reflection on Matthew 8:1-4

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that after Jesus finished giving his most famous and extensive sermon (that is recorded), he comes down the mountain he had been on, presumably to head back into the town of Capernaum (Matt 8:5). Large crowds, as usual, follow him.

“Right away” (CSB) a man with leprosy approaches Jesus and kneels in front of him.

This is bold and shocking, to say the least. Lepers, in Jesus’ day, were “unclean” pariahs who were required to keep their distance from everyone else, except for, possibly, other lepers. NO one who considered themselves a faithful Jew, or a health-conscious Gentile fearful of contagion, would ever dare come near a leper. Our modern equivalent would have been the AIDS epidemic in the 80s, before people understood the transmission process. And, perhaps, Covid.

So, you have to picture the scene in your mind: Jesus, famous Rabbi, preacher, and miracle worker, headed toward the city, followed by large crowds.  This is NOT the best place for a leper to show up. But he does.

I admire his courage. It is likely born of desperation, but so what? He acted on his desperation and risked the displeasure of both Jesus and the crowds by approaching the Teacher and kneeling before him. Now, we could easily imagine that he made the choice to plant himself at a distance from, but visible to, Jesus, but we know this is not true. This desperate, bold leper gets close enough for Jesus to reach out and touch him (vs 3).

I can readily picture the crowd gasping in horror and pulling back so as not to be made unclean by this presumptuous pariah. It’s not in the text, but I could also imagine some shouting, “Unclean!” and pointing as they scrabble backward in horrified haste. Perhaps a few picked up a stone or two to hurl at the man, to get him to scamper away. We don’t know, but it’s plausible.  These are human beings, not some cardboard cutouts of ancient mythology, and it’s likely they behaved very humanly… as we are prone to do when faced with a situation we do not wish to be in.

The story unfolds.

This nameless leper kneels right before Jesus and then makes a fascinating statement: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  There is NO doubt in this man’s mind that Jesus has the actual capacity to perform the deed, to do a miracle. Jesus’ reputation is clearly described at the end of Matthew, chapter 4. Jesus went all over the region of Galilee, teaching, preaching, and “healing every disease and sickness among the people” (CSB). News about him spread far and wide and people in need of healing, and perhaps a lot of lookey-loos, came out of the proverbial woodwork from north, south, east, and west, beyond the boundaries of Judea. He healed them all. By the time Jesus meets this leper on the road to Capernaum, there is no doubt whatsoever in this man’s mind that Jesus CAN heal him.

The leper’s statement is one of belief tinged by doubt that Jesus would WANT to heal him. Rearrange the man’s statement like this: “I know you can heal me, if you are willing.”

Have you ever been there? I know you CAN heal me God, I know you CAN make this or that happen, open this or that door, etc., I just don’t know if you WILL? I have.

I’ve never once doubted God’s capacity to do whatever he wants whenever he wants; I have often questioned if he would, wanted to do what I asked, when and how I asked. I’m guessing you’ve done the same.

The FIRST thing Jesus does is reach out and touch this man. A leper!!! Leprosy is contagious; the people had some basis for concern, though they had leveraged that legitimate concern into full blown prejudicial ostracization, and social shaming and shunning. Such things happen all the time in the social media spaces of our day and age even without a legitimate concern.

Anyway, back to the story…

Jesus apparently does not walk around this man. He stops. He reaches for the man. He touches the man. He speaks, assuring the man, “I am willing. Be clean.” Poof! Just like that, the man’s leprosy disappeared and he looked good as new. Again, I readily picture the crowds closest to Jesus who could see what was happening gasping again, this time in surprise at the miracle that just happened right in front of their very eyes: now you see it, now you don’t. I can almost hear the murmurs as they swell to reach the people further back in the crowds who wondered why they had come to a stop.

I can picture the man staring in awe at his fresh and healthy flesh, no sign anywhere of the disease that has plagued him. I can feel his awe and excitement and joy.

I want to zero in here on what Jesus did and did not do.

Jesus stopped. He didn’t keep walking past the man or turn around.

Jesus stayed. He didn’t prioritize his busy schedule.

Jesus listened. He didn’t interrupt.

Jesus reached. He didn’t hold himself apart.

Jesus touched. He didn’t fear. He wasn’t proud.

Jesus assured. He didn’t blame or shame.

Jesus healed. He didn’t ignore the man’s cry for help.

Jesus also recognized the faith of this man’s heart and demonstrated to those around him what love and compassion looks like. He said, without saying a word, that his man had value and worth in the eyes of God. He just came down the mountain where he had been teaching about the Kingdom of God and then he showed the crowd what that looks like IRL (“in real life” for those of you don’t regularly communicate in social media acronyms 😊).

So, what does this glimpse into the heart of Jesus and this snapshot of the Kingdom of God mean for us today?

I think his actions as described above tell us everything we need to know: the heart of Jesus is to care about people who are hurting, suffering, in need. No, most of us will not heal a terminal disease most of the time (though God still does these kinds of works through some of his saints). But, ALL of us who claim to be followers of The Way, disciples of Jesus Christ, can take a page out Jesus’ playbook in this regard: acknowledge someone’s humanity as an image-bearer of God, stop, stay, listen, reach out, touch, assure. Actually pray with and for someone. Don’t just say “I’ll pray for you” and then forget, and don’t just send the praying hands emoji. Help people in practical ways. Show up. It’s not that hard, but it does require a sacrifice on our part: a sacrifice of our time, attention, energy, and, in many cases, pride.

While every single religious leader of Jesus’ day would have screamed at the man to get away, Jesus never hesitated to show love and compassion. That’s our model. He wasn’t “too good” to get his hands dirty, and he didn’t judge (other than the religious hypocrites of his day). He showed love concretely to anyone and everyone he crossed paths with who was open to receiving it.

The more I learn about Jesus, the more this single shining truth comes out: Jesus IS love and he calls US to love others the same way that he did and does. THAT is what the kingdom of God IS: his disciples, his followers, doing what he did the best we can, within whatever sphere we each find ourselves in, with whatever capacities we have available to us. No excuses.

Maybe every encounter won’t be some dramatic event like that one, but every encounter with your spouse, family, friends, strangers at the store or doctor’s office can be an opportunity to show a person they have value and worth in the eyes of God. Live out the kingdom of God in highly practical ways. Here. Now. Today. Tomorrow. And every day thereafter until God comes back or calls you home.

Stop.

Stay.

Listen.

Reach.

Touch.

Assure.

Help.

Not all of these will apply one hundred percent of the time in every single situation, but most of them will much of the time. I’m willing to bet that God will use each one of us who asks God to use us to love others in ways large and small, when we show up and show worth, living a life of love.