Scripture

But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Observation

Jesus heals. A man with leprosy. The leprosy disappears instantly, and the man is healed.

Jesus tells the man not to tell anybody, but instead to go to the priest with the required offering. This will be his testimony.

The man spreads the word everywhere and, as a result, large crowds surround Jesus. He cannot go anywhere publicly because there are too many people. Even when he stays in the secluded places, people come to Him.

Application

When God changes your life, you want to tell people, The leper was not only healed of a disease, he was released from poverty and social exclusion. It is not surprising that he wanted to tell people about what had happened.

For Jesus, the problem was that He now became conspicuous and would certainly come to the attention of the authorities.

Wherever He went, people would seek Him out. They were motivated by the miracles and healings. How many would be changed by his teaching?

There are people who come to church for the music, for the preaching, for the fellowship, but they never grow in the Lord. It is surface level christianity that never sinks into the soul.

We must let the Holy Spirit transform us from glory to glory.

Listening

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, I have provided many ways into the Kingdom. Salvation only comes through Jesus. But I draw people to myself in many different ways.

For some people, it is a dramatic conversion, but for others it is a gradual realisation. Some people see or hear something that starts a journey, that directs them to me.

You must pray for those who are in the crowd looking on but not really grasping the power of the Gospel. Satan has pulled the wool over many people’s eyes, but for many of them, just one glimpse of my glory is enough. Pray for the unsaved. Pray and do not give up.