Verse: Matthew 8:3-4
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Devotion
It’s hard to trust that God sees the bigger picture and is working things out for our good. Sometimes, we’re in situations where everything seems unjust and undeserved, leading us to question: If God is good, why do bad things happen? This is often one of our first struggles with faith. But as we journey through life, we start to see purpose unfold further down the road. We witness God’s plan taking shape and goodness being restored in our lives. The entire Bible is a testament to this concept, with chapters upon chapters revealing the compassionate story of Jesus Christ. We’re continually reminded of our need for a Savior and how God provides for us in phenomenal ways.
Matthew 8:3-4 is another example of Jesus engaging on a deeper level than it might first appear.
I find it intriguing that Matthew records the healing of the man with leprosy. After such a profound teaching, I imagine Jesus was swarmed by people. Following the “Ask and it will be given to you” sermon, many likely came forward hoping for their own miracle. But Matthew zeroes in on this man specifically.
After healing him, Jesus instructs the man to go to the temple and perform the cleansing ceremony as a testimony to the priests. I didn’t realize there was such a detailed ritual for leprosy cleansing until I looked into Leviticus 14. The process lasts a week and involves two birds: one is sacrificed, and its blood is sprinkled on the other, which is then set free (I know thinking about animal sacrifices might be a lot first thing in the morning, but stick with me!). This ritual symbolizes exactly what Jesus did for us—He sacrificed Himself so we could be set free.
Whether or not the priests connected these dots on the day the man came to the temple is unclear. Perhaps they recalled this story later and found deeper meaning. But what’s clear is that every time we delve a little deeper into the Bible and history, we see the fingerprints of God at work.
So today, if you’re wrestling with understanding the “whys” in your life, trust in God. Know that He’s working for your good and orchestrating a bigger plan that’s beyond our immediate understanding. Have confidence in His sovereignty and goodness, knowing that every step—no matter how challenging—is part of His grand design.
Author: Joanna Martin
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