Jesus heals the leper

Mark 1:40-45 - Jesus heals the leper

v40a - And a leper came to Jesus

This is an incident of a leper who took the inititive and pains of coming to Jesus. In those days, being a leper was synonymous with an "outcast". They were not allowed to live in the city. They used to live in the outskirts of the city, mostly near the graves. One such man, comes to Jesus. He doesn't wait for Jesus to pass by his house or his road. He takes the step forward to come to Jesus to seek his help. He'd have had to face the scorn of many people to have been able to get near Jesus. But this shows his determination on seeking God's help to be healed.

v40b - "If You are willing, You can make me clean".

When he comes to Jesus, what a beautiful way he presents his request. He doesn't say "Master I want to be clean. Please make me clean". His request seems more on the lines of "Not my will, but Yours be done". Again, I'd say he was not only a determined man, but a man who knew the scriptures and wanted nothing but God's will to come alive in his life.

v41a - Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him,

Till now, what I saw of the leper was that of a man who knew the right way to approach things in life. But when I read this verse, it got me thinking, "Why did Jesus have to stretch out His hand?" This leper had withstood the glares and comments of the people around Jesus, knew that the best thing in his life is what is willed by God, but still inspite of coming all that distance, couldn't he have stood near enough for Jesus to touch him, without having to stretch out?

When I visualize this situation, I think of it this way. He knelt beside Jesus, and asked him to cleanse him if He is willing. Jesus was willing, so He lifted His hands to touch the leper. Seeing the hand motion, the reaction of the leper could have been to step back a step, to think that may be Jesus' hand was moving towards him by mistake. He might've thought, Jesus will say "Be clean", and presto, I'll be as good as new. Or may be He'll ask me to wash myself in the River Jordan. But inspite of submitting himself to God's will, his body was unrelenting when God did something his mind had not perceived.

Aren't we like that leper most times (or may be at all times).

We really want God to work in us.

We are willing to submit our lives to the will of God.

But!!!! When He does something in our lives as not perceived by us, we tend to move back. We tend to keep one step back, and look at Him and say, "Whoa there! Are you sure you really want to do that? This is not exactly how I expected you to answer my prayers. You sure you wanna be doing this to me?"

Breaking things

Heard this message in one of Joyce Meyer's sermons. A reality we seem to take forever to fathom.

If you recollect the incident of Jesus feeding the 5000, it talks about Jesus taking and breaking the bread before He gave it. The word says, He

• Took the bread
• Blessed the bread
• Broke the bread
• Passed the bread to the multitudes.

You should remember that He does the same thing with us. "He takes us, He blesses us, He breaks us - so He can give us to the multitudes."

Will you trust God today, that your pain is going to be for the gain of His kingdom? He is going to mess with your weaknesses, to get you to be where you can be strong in them through Him.

The miracle maker.

Summer has begun! No school any more. I can play all I want, all the day long, and ma is not going to shout at me to sit with my books. Yaay! This life is amazing. No homework, no classes, just play, play and play some more. Let me start this beautiful day, by just walking around my neighborhood. Let me explore this place for some bugs and insects I can take home and scare Daisy, my lil sister with.

Hey! What’s going on? Where does every one seem headed? I rush to my friend Sam, who also seems to be ready to go, to find out where’s he’s headed. “Haven’t you heard, this great teacher is here, near our town. Mom and dad said He can do miracles too. Come, join us. Am sure it’s going to be fun. I’ve heard He loves children, and will answer all our questions. Not like my parents who rush me out of the house when I ask where lil babies come from”, he tells me.

I am so happy. Finally some one who is going to answer all my questions. Mom these days is so busy with Daisy, she doesn’t sit down and tell me stories or sing me to sleep. I rush back home, and tell my mom all that Sam told me. I ask her if we could all go too. But she says Daisy is too small to be out in open sun for long. But I plead her to atleast let me go. I promise her to be a good boy and to stick with Sam’s family the whole time. Finally she relents, and agrees to allow me to go see this miracle man and teacher.

I change fast into my Sunday clothes (I want to be dressed to my best just incase the teacher calls me up to help during demostration of one of his stories, like our Sunday school teacher does sometimes). My mom hurriedly packs me my lunch. I peep in to see what it is. Yummy! It’s bread and fish. My favorite!! Mom knows all my needs so well. I love her so much.

With the packed lunch in one hand, and my playing stick in the other, I head out to meet Sam and his family. I hear footsteps, and turn back to find mom trying to catch up with me. (Oh no! Hope she didn’t change her mind). She rushes to ensure that I’m with Sam’s family. Both our moms talk a bit, and Sam’s mom reassures mine lovingly. Thank God all’s well now. Mom kisses me goodbye and asks me to be good and not wander away alone.

I can’t wait to see him. What if he can do some cool magic tricks? May be I’ll sneak up to him, and plead him to teach me some of those tricks too. Am sure he can’t resist my puppy dog eyes. I always get my way with dad with those eyes. But if he is cooler than that, I think I’ll follow him and become some one like him when I grow up. So that people will come from far and near to listen to me too. Man! That’s gonna be awesome.

We walk and walk to the end of our town. I can see a small group there. One of them sees us. They are talking among each other. Let me count how many of them are there. 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..11..12..13. Wait a minute, those 12 men seem to be trying to get the other one away from us. May be he is the teacher all these people are talking about. Oh please God, don’t let him leave without talking to us. We’ve walked so far just to see him and to hear him. I don’t want to go back empty handed.

What do I see? That man is looking at us and smiling. He seems to be inviting us to join him. Not just us, there are lot more people coming in from other towns too. Luckily, we are the first ones, and we get to sit right in front. I can see him very clearly now. I can listen to his every word too. I don’t have to worry about missing out on things he says and does. Today is a very lucky day for me.

All people who came in are now settled around the master. Those 12 people I saw initially are around too. They seem very preoccupied. Ah! How does that matter, atleast the teacher seems interested to see us all. He starts talking to us about this wonderful kingdom. A kingdom where the king is going to be just, and all the people are going to be happy. No one will go hungry in that kingdom. I can’t wait for that king to come. I don’t like it here. The shopkeepers don’t give us food, because we don’t have the kind of money they ask of us. My dad works night and day. He is able to provide us with enough food, but sometimes I see him and mom not having enough to eat.

Let me not worry about my family and this kingdom now. I want to be prepared for the new king to come. I look wonder-eyed at this teacher, everything he says makes sense to me. It’s like he’s talking only to me. I can see him looking into my eyes all the time. Am sure he loves me. (Mom always says I’m the most handsome boy and the best boy in this whole town).

Some people are rising up. Do they plan to leave? How can they leave when he is talking to all of us? Wait a minute, they are not leaving. They are carrying that man to the teacher. I know him. He’s the crippled man who begs at the temple gates. What are they doing? Why are they carrying him to the teacher? Is he a doctor too?

The teacher is looking at them with such love. I have never seen any one look at that crippled man like that. He’s reaching out and touching him. What do I see? The crippled man is standing up by himself. Unbelievable. He doesn’t seem to need his friends’ support anymore. How did he do that? Wow!! That’s so cool. I can see someone else standing next. I know that lady. People say she has some disease, and will die soon. May be she wants to tell the teacher her final good byes. What are they talking? He is closing his eyes. I think he is praying. She is smiling now. She seems so happy. Her face doesn’t look tired any more. Did he just cure her? He is a miracle maker indeed.

I see James walking to the teacher. He has his trademark guiding stick in his hand. He seems to miraculously reach the teacher, just like he finds his way around our town. The teacher touches his empty eyes. The next thing I hear is James shouting with joy, saying “I can see! I can see!” He is running around without his stick. He comes to me and says he’s finally happy to see everything around him.

It’s past noon. I’m hungry. I think I’ll eat my lunch now. But those 12 people seem to be telling the teacher something. I inch forward to listen to what they are saying. “This a remote place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one here to have a bite!” But the teacher seems so calm. “Don’t fret. Have faith, and my Father can do miracles for us. Give all you have to Him, and He will grow it abundantly”, says the teacher. After saying these words, He looks around at me, and smiles.

Did he tell that to me? But how can these bread and fish be enough for all these people? This is a huge crowd. I overheard one of those men with the teacher say there could be 5000 men, along with women and children. But the teacher said give all we have to god, and He will grow it to abundance. I’ll give Him all I have. May be I can help him to do another miracle here.

I step up to the teacher. I hand him my lunch, 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. I tell him, “This is all I have. I want you to use it to feed those who need it”. He looks lovingly at me and tells me “Clement,” (how did He know my name?) “you will be an example to people of all times. You will be spoken about for generations to come, because of what you did today. You gave the Lord all you had. God will use this offering of yours to feed all those gathered here. Come join me in giving thanks to the Lord”.

After saying these words, he looked up to the sky and gave thanks to the Lord for me and for the food he had in his hands. He gave the bread to one of those 12 men. He told them to pass it along. He asked them to give people as much as they want. “Don’t ration it”, He said. He did the same with the fish. He then made me sit beside him, and gave me bread and fish, saying, “Isn’t this your favorite food? Eat till you are full” (how does he know all about me? He knows my name, He knows my favorite food, He seems to know everything.)

I sit happily next to the teacher, and start eating the bread and fish. They taste better than always today. Everyone is enjoying the food, some of them are looking at me and smiling. Some of them come over and ruffle my hair, and tell me that I’m a very good boy. I can’t wait to go and tell mom all that happened here. What a miracle! The teacher used just those 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to feed this multitude.

I see those 12 men collecting leftovers. They come to the teacher, and tell him that they’ve collect 12 baskets of bread leftover, after all of them had eaten their full. This miracle doesn’t seem to end. I can’t wait to get home and tell my mom and dad all about it. When Daisy grows up, I’ll tell her the stories the Teacher told me today. I will also tell her the miracles he performed. I’ll tell her how I was the only one among the multitude, who was ready to share all of my food, all my favorite food of bread and fish and how the miracle maker fed the 5000 men, and the women and all the children with just my 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish.

When that day comes

Spreading everywhere is the spirit of celebration
All things I hear are about eternal jubilation
Seems all hearts are submerged in this flood
The full-grown trees to every tiny bud

Who is it that’ll here cometh
That these people so runneth
Everywhere I go seeth only celebrations
Everyone I know seemth in jubilations

Suddenly I realize that knowth all around
But do know that this is not a place I’ve ere seen
Strangely still it feels just like home
Am surrounded by love and care all along

I look to the skies to see sight so familiar
But what I do see makes me feel stranger though
No sun, no moon, no stars do I see
But still in brightest of days I do live

I search for the temple to sit down and pray
I walk through the streets in search of my goal
Not a temple is here to worship my Lord
What a strange land I think traveling it whole

Suddenly I find myself in front of that man
He’s so lovely, he’s so kind
I’ll never forget that look in his eyes
As he looks into mine with such lot of love

I feel like I’ve known him for a long time now
But this radiance is something I’ve never seen before
I’m captivated by that look
And now to his sight I remain hooked

Now I realize am filled with his love
Happily now I’m running around
Dwelling in abounding moments of celebration
Sprinting around in the bliss of jubilation

This is the place I’ve wanted to be
Right from the day I’ve got to know Him
My longest of dreams has finally come true
As I stand face to face with the great I AM.

Decisions

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
Pondering on these things I should take
From the start of the day
Till back on the pillow I lay

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
What do I wear, and what do I make
On this bright sunny morning
As I start another new day

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
That links to my life and all those around me
Some of them small and rather insignificant
Some of them mighty and has all significance

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
I wonder along if right decisions have taken
This is the time when I want to be alone
Sitting and checking on all decisions I’ve made

Decisions, decision, decisions to make
I’m proud to tell you what a wonder it’s been
Taking the right decisions at some major turns
I look back at all, and smile at my good sense

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
The past is now gone, I need not bother
All I have to think, is bout the gift of today
And the decisions to make for a brighter tomorrow

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
No I’m not alone I strongly believe
The master planner is part of me always
Helping me, in Him take decisions right

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
I know that this is a reality always
No matter what comes, I surely do know
My god has plans to prosper alone

Decisions, decisions, decisions to make
One decision I’ve taken ere and today
To take all decisions in His mighty plans
Plans that’ll prosper and not harm me ever

Mom - God's gift

Down I land, in an all new town
Slowly I take my first few steps
Like a baby walking for the very first time
A known face to find in the crowd all around

My searching eyes finally rest
At the beaming face out in the crowd
What joy it brings to see her face
Gleaming at me with her beautiful smile

She puts me at home in this new lil town
And shows me all places as we drive along
Where she works and where she ere lived
All she shows me with such lovely care

Days go by with me sitting at home
But not a day when she doesn’t call
To check about my health, and
Making me feel completely at home

I spend long hours talking to her
Sure doesn’t feel like I’ve not known her for long
It seems to me, that she’s always been there
Watching me grow and listening to my endless talks

My every desire, fulfill does she
Even before it reaches my tongue
She cares about my feelings more than I do
And always takes time out to make me feel home

Starting to work after quite a long time
I get back home from a long tiring first day
To find her standing right at the door
Waiting for me to come home

Can’t stop telling her about all things I do
She aint just another person in my life
She’s become one of the most important ones
She’s my Mom, chosen according to God’s perfect plan

Talk to me

Am sitting alone at my lonely desk
Getting work done, all to my best
A friend wants to talk
And pops out of nowhere

We talk for sometime
Bout all things that’s fun
He seems to go, to where, not I know
Leaving me here waiting, for what, not I know

My mind now astray, tries to find other pals
From all over the world
With whom I can talk
For just a few minutes long

Sadly though find I no one here
Who seems to be free to talk to me now
I wonder how come none are free to me talk
All too busy at just the same time

Wild thoughts run along
As I try to find out
A way through my thoughts
All slimy and mire

They’re all o’er the place
Telling me aint no coincidence this
“All of them are avoiding, don’t you realize
Tells epics of how much love you they”

I wanna talk to some one
Find I though none
I’m ready to listen
But where are the people who’ll talk to me now

Have all deserted me
Have all said good bye
Leaving me here, all to myself
To live my life till eternity alone

Out there some where
Waits my patient One
Ready to listen all my lil talks
Ready to speak more than I can ever grasp

A fool I was, and a fool still am
To have found precious love
But chosen to walk on away
To my own stupid paths
To my own crooked ways

He’s always been there talking to me
Waiting as ever to listen to me
Oh what a fool I’ve always been
Blind did I turn to His gracious love

I turn to go back to my lover again
What do I see, that He’s running my way
I wanna fall to His feet and ask Him to flay
No words do I say cos of the love I behold in His eyes

I run to His arms to talk my heart out
Want to listen to every word that He says
And grasp all the meaning of His wisdom profound
Staying with Him till eternity doth last

Still I wonder what a fool I’ve been
Why do I leave this lover of mine
To others who have not known me in love
Lord help me to be not a fool all eternity