Welcome to Hank’s Place —
Today we want to give hope to all you zombies out there. Not a zombie? Listen up, you might want to — think again!
Check out Matthew’s Gospel, the first 17 verses of chapter 8. After recounting details of Jesus’ birth, temptation, and Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records powerful events at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. There’s a leper, a Roman soldier, a family member, and unidentified multitudes. In 17 verses! Our focus is primarily upon the leper.
The man had leprosy. This terrible, contagious, debilitating disease caused a progressive death over a period of 20-30 years. There was no cure. A person died by inches as body parts grew numb, diseased, and rotted off. A person with leprosy was dead while alive. The LIVING DEAD. Like a ZOMBIE. BTW, leprosy is a perfect model of SIN and how it destroys a person, bit by bit.
Well, this zombie came to Jesus by himself. No one to help. Having no hope in this world. No promise. No invite. But he came — to Jesus. And worshiped. In coming, in posture, in words, in honor, in respect and in confidence – “IF you are willing,” he said, “you can heal me.” Healing of leprosy was on par with raising the dead, but this leper did not question Jesus’ ability to cure even a zombie like him.
Jesus, moved with compassion it says in Mark 1:41, said, “I AM willing” and touched him. Jesus touched the zombie, this picture of SIN. He didn’t HAVE to touch him — but He did. Jesus didn’t HAVE to touch our sin — but He did. He took it upon Himself, bearing the punishment, and carried our sin away. Hallelujah!
That leper was cleansed. Friend, what about you? Are you sick? With something incurable? Are you full of sin? Come to Jesus. Get ahold of Jesus — let Him touch you and be healed! God’s grace is abundant. It’s not about you; it’s all about Jesus. Whatever form our zombieism may take, Jesus is our cure.
In the account of the Roman centurion that follows, we find that he has a sick slave. Under Roman law a person could kill his slave if the slave was ill or unable to work. But this centurion has compassion, and pleads for the life of his slave. REMARKABLE, don’t you think? He thinks of others, even his slave, and understands FAITH better than Israel.
We can gain wisdom: compassion, faith, Jesus leads to miracles, yes?
Next Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law with a touch of his hand – and without mention of faith. Can’t put healing in a box when it comes to Jesus my friend!
Then they brought to Him many who were ill or demonized — and He healed them ALL. The implication is He dealt with each one, one by one — because He cares for each one of us – we — matter — to Jesus!
Are you a zombie? Got an incurable disease? Got sin? Lots of sin? Well, Jesus cares! Isn’t it time you get ahold of Jesus today, the God of compassion — let HIM deal with all that nastiness — and you — COME ALIVE!
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