Synoptic Gospels 2: Servant of the Lord (4)
Pray Psalm 6.1-3.
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O LORD —how long?Sing Psalm 6.1-3.
(Lancashire: Lead On, O King Eternal)
O LORD, do not rebuke me, nor chasten me in wrath;
let graciousness and love be companions on my path.
O heal my troubled soul, LORD; my bones and flesh renew!
How long ’til I’m made whole, LORD? I wait, O LORD, on You.
Read Matthew 8.1-4; Mark 1.40-45; Luke 5.12-16; meditate on Mark 1.40-45.
Preparation
1. What did this man want from Jesus? How did he approach Him?
2. How did Jesus respond to him?
Meditation
As Jesus looked upon this diseased soul, kneeling before Him, He knew everything that was about to happen.
He knew what the man would say, a simple confession of faith coupled with a plea for healing. He knew that He would touch the man and speak to him, and that his leprosy would immediately be cured, and he would be made whole. Jesus knew what He would say to him, that he should fulfill the Law of God that directed him in a certain way to have his healing verified and by offering a thanksgiving gift. And He knew that He would instruct him not to noise it about that Jesus had healed him, lest He be prematurely made known and His ministry be obstructed. He knew that the man would not heed His instructions but, in his joy, would go about everywhere telling family and friends and all who knew him that Jesus had made him whole. And He knew that this would mean He would have to retire to the desert to get away from the crowds thronging Him, though they would continue coming anyway.
Jesus knew all this as He looked with compassion on this wretched man. And then He healed him anyway. This is the power of compassion, of being able to insert oneself into the suffering of another and to long for their relief as much as they do. Compassion such as Jesus knew is a rare disposition. But Jesus had it in spades.
Surely, along with compassion, Jesus must have felt some irritation? Frustration? Disappointment? But His compassion overrode the other affections, which might have led Him to demur, and He touched and spoke this man to health, even knowing as He did what the consequences would be. Jesus’ compassion for stupid sinners such as I is most wonderful.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
I am saddened and chagrined to wonder if I would have “touched” (Lk. 5.13) this man who was “full of leprosy” (Lk. 5.12)—as Dr. Luke noted.
This man didn’t just have a bit of leprosy here and there, he was consumed by the disease, no doubt with disfiguration and mighty odors. And yet, our compassionate and loving Savior touched him. Jesus’ healing powers could have done the work with just a word—as with the Centurion’s son (see Lk. 7.1-10). Jesus knew, though, that a touch from Him would make all the difference in this man’s heart—a man shunned and despised by others because of this festering and feared disease.
Unconfessed and unforgiven sin is equally as festering; and should be feared more than getting a bad case of leprosy. Our sin, and all our attempts at goodness apart from Jesus’ work on the cross, are irreparably dirty.
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Is. 64.6). Hopelessly in need of the Savior’s touch.
Hallelujah! He also has had compassion on us, His diseased enemies.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103.1-5).
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
“I AM willing; be cleansed” (Matt. 8.2, 3).
“If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1.9).
Shackled by a heavy burden, ’Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same.
Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
(Bill Gaither, 1963)
Touched and cleansed to glorify God and keep His Law (Mk.1.44).
Ready to touch others with His grace, mercy, and truth.
Followers and imitators (1 Cor. 11.1) of The Compassionate Servant.
Reflection
1. How do you experience Jesus’ compassion toward you?
2. How can you become more compassionate toward others?
3. How would you describe the relationship between compassion and serving?
By his word alone he might have healed the leper; but he applied, at the same time, the touch of his hand, to express the feeling of compassion. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 8.3
Pray Psalm 6.4-10.
Bring all your burdens to the Lord; He will have compassion on you. Call on Him to hear your supplications and receive your prayers. Offer your day to Him for His service and glory.
Sing Psalm 6.4-10.
(Lancashire: Lead On, O King Eternal)
Return, O LORD, and save me! Deliver me by grace!
For there will in the grave be no mention of Your praise.
O LORD, let lovingkindness prevail, or I shall die!
In death who shall Your Name bless? Who shall Your praises cry?
I weep, and weary sighing, by night pour forth my tears.
I cease not from my crying and tremble in my fears.
My wasting eyes implore You; LORD, see how deep my grief!
My foes array before You; LORD, bring my soul relief!
Let all who sin delight in depart from me with haste.
My prayers have entered right in before my Savior’s face.
My foes turn back in anguish; they are no longer there!
My enemies are vanquished, for God has heard my prayer!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. Do you ever wonder about what God’s will for you is? Patrick—echoing Paul—makes it clear, as you can see in last week’s Crosfigell. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, teaches us how to pray for the ministries of our church, beginning with worship. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
