The Servant Messiah 7
Compassion and Conflict - Luke 5:12-17
With his new found close associates and new witnesses to his work, Messiah was soon confronted with another phase of the human problem which was of direct concern to the mind and heart of God. A leper appeared before Messiah pleading for help. This was not simple problem of one’s health. It was an integral part of total society - attitudes, fears, and even theology.
This dreadful incurable disease brought about slow disfigurement and eventual death. It was so contagious that victims must be isolated. They must warn others of their nearness by crying: "Unclean, unclean" or by ringing a special bell upon approach. The leper was thus deprived of affection, appreciation, and friendship - those primary spiritual resources upon which human lives thrives. This stressful deprivation, no doubt, hastened his own bodily deterioation. More than thi, the common understanding placed the leper in a category of divine rejection. His affliction indicated to him and to the world that Divine judgment had acted. Messiah must reveal the mind of God in order to correct this appalling situation. Yet this innovation would bring about confusion and conflict. Already as the leper drew near the new disciples were withdrawing with fear and hesitation.
Messiah was not only confronting a leper who had broken civil law by entering town, but he faced a whole complex of attitudes and spiritual principles. Messiah was here to correct, to improve, to initiate, to change for the better, to redeem.
Messiah broke the social spell as he touched the disfigured face before the eyes of the public and his horrified disciples. The cleansed, healed, whole man was asked to show himself to the priest to have the stigma removed. In order to reduce the stir he was also asked to go quietly away. In one stroke Messiah had rejected the notion of society. God’s ways were not man’s ways.
The reaction was immediate and momentous. Multitudes came with their sick and infirm to be healed. Once again Messiah would have to retreat for prayer and meditation. It was never easy to turn away.
With his new found close associates and new witnesses to his work, Messiah was soon confronted with another phase of the human problem which was of direct concern to the mind and heart of God. A leper appeared before Messiah pleading for help. This was not simple problem of one’s health. It was an integral part of total society - attitudes, fears, and even theology.
This dreadful incurable disease brought about slow disfigurement and eventual death. It was so contagious that victims must be isolated. They must warn others of their nearness by crying: "Unclean, unclean" or by ringing a special bell upon approach. The leper was thus deprived of affection, appreciation, and friendship - those primary spiritual resources upon which human lives thrives. This stressful deprivation, no doubt, hastened his own bodily deterioation. More than thi, the common understanding placed the leper in a category of divine rejection. His affliction indicated to him and to the world that Divine judgment had acted. Messiah must reveal the mind of God in order to correct this appalling situation. Yet this innovation would bring about confusion and conflict. Already as the leper drew near the new disciples were withdrawing with fear and hesitation.
Messiah was not only confronting a leper who had broken civil law by entering town, but he faced a whole complex of attitudes and spiritual principles. Messiah was here to correct, to improve, to initiate, to change for the better, to redeem.
Messiah broke the social spell as he touched the disfigured face before the eyes of the public and his horrified disciples. The cleansed, healed, whole man was asked to show himself to the priest to have the stigma removed. In order to reduce the stir he was also asked to go quietly away. In one stroke Messiah had rejected the notion of society. God’s ways were not man’s ways.
The reaction was immediate and momentous. Multitudes came with their sick and infirm to be healed. Once again Messiah would have to retreat for prayer and meditation. It was never easy to turn away.
posted by Dr. James F. Hubbard at 3:02 PM
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