What Jesus Did! 'Two Facets of a Healing' — Luke 5:12-13

Thursday, March 9, 2023

We're Not There Yet—Will You Help Us Reach Our Goal?

Your support is truly needed. Even small donations makes a big difference!

 Donate Now
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."

Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

— Luke 5:12-13 NLT

Key Thought

We see two powerful facets of this healing in a simple, yet astounding, story.
  1. We see an awesome faith in Jesus. The man believed Jesus could cure the incurable. He believed Jesus could give him back his life. That awesome faith brought him to Jesus — face down in the dust, to honor Jesus and to ask for his help.
  2. We see the tenderness of Jesus. While the man was cured at the spoken word of Jesus (Remember one of the key themes that run through several of the recent stories about Jesus is the power and authority of his words!), here the focus is on the touch of Jesus. This touch is not about healing; healing occurred through Jesus' spoken word, but grace came through the touch of Jesus! Jesus touched a man who was ritually unclean [1] and let that man know that he was loved even in his diseased and unclean condition.

The message for us is clear: We come to Jesus claiming nothing for ourselves and knowing he is everything. As we offer ourselves to him, we find that he blesses us with what we most need — personal love and acceptance from our Creator and Lord!

[1] Leviticus 22:4; Luke 17:12-14. These references refer to cleansing of lepers rather than stating explicitly that lepers were unclean.

Today's Prayer

O wonderfully gracious God Almighty, how can I fully fathom your love? You are majestic and limitless, and I am finite and fallen. Thank you for reaching out to me with your hand of grace in Jesus and choosing to include me in your grace. In Jesus' name, I praise you and thank you. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 John 4:9-10
  • Romans 5:6-8
  • Colossians 1:18-22

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, March 9, 2023

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Opening Blind Eyes #2'
"Dear Friend, I want you to notice the different ways people in this story viewed the "man born blind" that you find in your Bibles (John 9:1-41):My....."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Loose Women Are Dangerous Traps' (Pr. 23:27-28)
"A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make...."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'From the Least to the Greatest' (Re. 19:5)
"And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.""

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 5:12-13 NLT — "Be healed!"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!