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One thing that I find interesting in several of the stories is about Jesus telling the person He healed or delivered from demons not to tell anyone who was responsible. Here in verses 12-16 He tells the man with advanced leprosy to show himself to the Priest and to give the offering directed in the law of Moses. Of course, the man tells everyone as did others who were instructed not to. Jesus knew what would happen why did He bother to tell them? I've heard some say that Jesus did it so they would be sure to tell everyone because that's our human nature to do the opposite of what we told. I struggle with that idea because then Jesus would be manipulative and I can't believe He would be. However, the reason He told people not to tell anyone how they were healed does not have a bearing on my salvation. It will be one of the many questions I know will be answered in eternity.
I also love the story of Matthew's calling and especially the dinner. I'm so grateful that Jesus came for those of us who were sick.
Thoughts on this passage!?!?!
Blessings all
I can think of a couple reasons why Jesus may have told people not to tell. One might be that he didn't want people to be so focused on the healing that they were diverted from the message he wanted to spread. I think that is why, after the healing, he often spoke of sins being forgiven and that sort of thing. Also, he may have been giving us a lesson in humility. It is easy to get caught up in focusing on the person praying for the healing and the person healed rather than the miracle from God. God should be the focus - not the actual people he uses to work miracles. The point being that we ALL can pray for healing and we ALL have access to God's miracles.
ReplyDelete"One might be that he didn't want people to be so focused on the healing that they were diverted from the message he wanted to spread."
DeleteThank you, Sharon, for this insight not to be focused on the healing but His message.
Luke 5
ReplyDelete1 As Jesus stood beside Lake Galilee, a crowd of people pushed to get closer to him and to hear the teachings of God.
They realized of Whom He spoke!
7b-8 The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. The fishermen were all amazed at the many fish they caught.
10b-11 Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on your work will be to bring in people, not fish!” The men brought their boats to the shore. They left everything and followed Jesus.
The abundance of fish where Jesus told them to cast their nets; the parallel: From now on your work will be to bring in people, not fish!
24a ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ There’s no proof that it really happened.
I know that I know that I know!!
29b At the table there were many tax collectors and some other people too.
My favorite little Zacchaeus was likely there!! Our name means the same! Pure ~*~ by the grace of God. He sees us washed by the Blood of Jesus and renews us from the inside out:
Luke 19
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”