Extraordinary events are happening left and right as Jesus begins His ministry. He and His disciples had just been on the mountain with a crowd of people. One man stands out! One man has the courage to come to Jesus. One man in his unholy state boldly asks and boldly believes. Ask, seek, and knock as this man did and see the amazing mercy of our Savior!
Matthew 8:1-4
1 “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What had Jesus been doing on the mountain before “he came down?” Chapters 5-7
+ Who is with Jesus as he descends? Verse 1
+ Put yourself in the story coming down the mountain after hearing Jesus’s teaching.
+ What do you see? Smell? Feel? Hear?
+ How did one man kneel before Jesus in the “great crowd?” How does Leviticus 13:45-46 shed light on this question?
+ Leviticus 13:45-46 45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
+ Imagine the courage this man had to have to come to Jesus in front of the crowd!
+ What other trait does the man demonstrate as he asks for his miracle in verse 2?
+ How are believers similar to the leper? Different?
+ How does what Jesus does in verse 3 impact what he had just taught on the mountain?
+ What might folks in the crowd do or say as they experience this miracle?
+ What does Jesus tell the man to do (and not do) after he was healed?
+ How does Jesus’s direction to the leper in verse 4 prove that Jesus did not come to abolish but to fulfill the law?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How are your actions reinforcing your teaching?
+ What fruit of obedience exists in your life now?
+ What courageous steps could you take today to demonstrate faith like the leper?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ Who can you stand shoulder to shoulder with in your next step?