you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
—Psalm 30:3
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
—Psalm 118:24
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
—Matthew 23:27-28
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
—Mark 1:40-41
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
—Romans 6:4
Uzziah began well, but then grew proud. He ended his days as a leper, living “in a separate house” and “excluded from the house of the Lord.” Ritual uncleanness and medical contagion, although distinct from sin, could serve to teach moral principles. One of the most enduring was that sin, like incurable disease and death, created separation.
This isn't a matter of cosmetics, but of essential nature. As the Lord reminded Samuel, humans see surface appearances, “but the Lord looks on the heart.” That principle is at the heart of the woes recorded in Matthew 23. A tomb containing a corpse still contains that dead body after the outside has been whitewashed. Whitewashing touches the surface of the stone without changing what is inside.
When Jesus touched a leper, He was not infected. He didn't cover the illness with stage makeup. Instead, His touch brought infectious healing “by the power of an indestructible life.” He entered the leper's space to bring healing. He laid hands on a woman “whom Satan bound for eighteen years” to bring release and freedom. He entered the grave to bring life.
He enters hearts to bring fellowship and peace and new life.
By the glory of the Father, and to the glory of the Father.
Glory
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
—Psalm 30:3
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
—Psalm 118:24
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
—Matthew 23:27-28
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
—Mark 1:40-41
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
—Romans 6:4
Uzziah began well, but then grew proud. He ended his days as a leper, living “in a separate house” and “excluded from the house of the Lord.” Ritual uncleanness and medical contagion, although distinct from sin, could serve to teach moral principles. One of the most enduring was that sin, like incurable disease and death, created separation.
This isn't a matter of cosmetics, but of essential nature. As the Lord reminded Samuel, humans see surface appearances, “but the Lord looks on the heart.” That principle is at the heart of the woes recorded in Matthew 23. A tomb containing a corpse still contains that dead body after the outside has been whitewashed. Whitewashing touches the surface of the stone without changing what is inside.
When Jesus touched a leper, He was not infected. He didn't cover the illness with stage makeup. Instead, His touch brought infectious healing “by the power of an indestructible life.” He entered the leper's space to bring healing. He laid hands on a woman “whom Satan bound for eighteen years” to bring release and freedom. He entered the grave to bring life.
He enters hearts to bring fellowship and peace and new life.
By the glory of the Father, and to the glory of the Father.