Reprint Compliments of Men At The Cross By Joe White

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Matthew 8:1-3: Jesus Cleanses a Leper

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

I have a lot of great memories from my childhood. One memory from my high school days has never left me

Cathy was the girl in our high school that hardly ever went out or was even noticed by a boy. Cathy had a rare disease as a little girl, which left her neck and her mouth grossly distorted. (I do remember, however, more than once noticing her beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes.) Even though Cathy was as sweet as any girl in my high school, no boy would ask her for a date because of her strangely disfigured features ... that is, until her senior prom.

David was the president of our student council and was about as nice a guy as I've ever met. He not only asked Cathy to prom, but he took her there and treated her like a queen. Cathy looked stunningly beautiful in her baby blue dress with pure white lace. Alfonse was a quiet, but sincere country boy who was also at the prom. He too noticed her hidden beauty. Alfonse took a special interest in Cathy after that dance and eventually asked for her hand in marriage. The loving touch of Christ-through-his young servant, David, "healed" Cathy's quest for love and attention about as beautifully and completely as Jesus might have done had He been in the good ol' Class of '64 with David and Cathy.

The account of Jesus and the leper has always amazed me because as I read it, I picture Jesus with the compassion of love in His eyes that is only known by the father of a daughter in need, reaching His hand out and touching the disfigured leper right in his biggest sore spot on the side of his face. While others backed away and turned their heads in disgust, Jesus reached His hand straight into the heart of the man's greatest need.

QUESTIONS:
1. Why were dramatic physical healings so much a part of Jesus' ministry on earth?
2. What need, hurt or problem gives you "leprosy" today?
3. Describe how you'd like for Jesus to touch you in that need

LIFELINE:
Think how you can be a "David" to a "Cathy" in your home today!