TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE?

 NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Mark 14:3

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

In this famous passage of Jesus’ anointing before His crucifixion, there’s an often-overlooked detail: Jesus is reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper. We don’t know if Simon is one of the many who Jesus had healed of leprosy, or if he was still afflicted with his condition. Either way, it’s remarkable that Jesus would enter his home and recline at his table.

Likewise, in Matthew 8, we see Jesus approached by a leper who requested Jesus heal him. Jesus reached out and touched him! Unheard of in this time, the fear that just touching a contagious person with leprosy would spread the disease meant those with the disease lived an isolated existence. Ah, but the man was healed by that touch. As it turns out, Jesus was more contagious with the life of the Kingdom than the leper was with his disease. The leper was infected with the life and love of Jesus.

One of the aspects of Jesus ministry that we keep witnessing is that Jesus was willing to go where others would not go, (home of Simon the Leper) engage with those whom others would not engage, (Women in Mark 14, the Leper in Matthew 8) and extend his contagious love for those whom others would not love.

As Jesus followers, are we called to do the same? What do you think?

TAKE AWAY

In our society Who are modern day lepers, the people to be avoided at all costs?

What willingness do you have to reach out and touch those persons with the love of Jesus?