A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
The country doctor made his rounds. Little Dora's illness still prevailed over her 6 year old body. The doctor told the family that Dora would probably live until the fall of the year. The leaves began to fall from the trees, and Dora grew weaker each day. As her mother peered out of her window, she saw Dora's brother outside under the old oak, stringing leaves together and placing them back in the tree…We all, some more than others, know the varied feelings associated with the death of someone we love. Most of us also know the joys of someone recovering from an illness or sickness. In some instances, we rightly declare the experience of the miraculous. Our understanding of healing is elementary, to say the least. Sometimes we follow formulas, try to be good enough or muster up enough faith to be healed. Conflicting information and internal uncertainty causes us much concern and anguish; we long to get “it” right, because the stakes are high.
Jesus is the object, center and focus of our faith. Yes, there are miraculous events and healings all around us, but to limit God with formulas, limits our understanding of the God of the Universe.
Faith is crucial to our relationship with God. Yet in our text, faith is not mentioned, although most assume it is implied. In our text the man's obedience was also questionable, to say the least.
The Son of God was filled with compassion for people. As the Son of God, healing verified his identity and the authenticity of his message. As the church, God has called us to be instruments of his healing and peace. It all begins with faith and compassion.
----Online Sermons---- 
Sunday February 12th 2006