13 Sep 2012; Luke 5

13 Sep 2012; Luke 5
 Luke 5:12-26

Jesus did 2 healing - one to a leaper and the other to a paralyzed man.

The leper was able to approached Jesus and asked Jesus if He was willing to heal him. Jesus did.

The second, the paralyzed man failed to approached Jesus. But probably has asked his friend to bring him to Jesus. They failed to approached Jesus, they resorted to bring him down from the roof. This time the man did not ask Jesus to heal him, but Jesus
 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
(Luke 5:20 ESV)

What did the paralyzed man want? His desired was to be healed to be able to walk again. That was why he go all out to get to the presence of Jesus. But Jesus did not heal him, He forgive his sins.

The leper - if you are willing, make me clean.

Similarity:
Both want to be healed.
Both approach Jesus

Contrast:
Jesus heal one, but forgive the other.

Story:
The leper knew Jesus as such his desire is to be cleanse on the outside.

The paralyzed heard about Jesus and his works. His desire is to be heal on the outside. But Jesus needs to "cleanse" the inside.

Response:
What therefore matters most is not about the physical state of healing but the soul-state of healing.
In a similar way, we engage God because we want to connect with Him.
In a similar way, it is not the works that touches man, but Jesus that touches the heart.
Jesus simply want us, not the physical state but make right the conditions of our heart and soul so that we can approach God again.

Let my heart be right with God and begin right with Him before all works. The conditions of our heart matters. Amen.