Matthew Chapter 8
By Pastor Chris
The Walking Dead
During Biblical times the Jewish culture was very particular about cleanliness. For instance, if someone were to have a skin disease they would need to disclose it to those around them and they were marked as unclean. To be found “unclean” had a few implications. The first was, that the unclean were banned from participating in Temple worship. This removed their ability to participate in the traditions in the Temple and essentially cut them off from their connection with God. If they were unable to enter the Temple they could not atone for their sin with sacrifice. The second is that if someone who had been declared unclean were to touch anyone, that person would also be ceremonially unclean and would have to take steps to be made clean again. With this in mind, the unclean were forced to live outside the town and sever contact with those who were ceremonially clean. The unclean were separated then from family as well as their community and were often times considered by relatives to be the walking dead.
Matthew 8:1-4 records this encounter:
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
This man comes to Jesus looking to be made clean.
He wants to be reunited with his family.
He wants to be reunited with his friends.
He wants to be reunited with his God.
And Jesus was willing to make that happen. He was willing to touch this unclean, diseased, might-as-well-be-dead man to restore him to a place of relationship with his community and with his God.
It is all too easy to feel as though we are “unclean” and are not worthy of our family, friends, and God. We feel like the walking dead lifelessly plodding through life with little meaning or purpose. To those that might find themselves in this place please hear the voice of Jesus saying “I am willing, be clean!”
