March 15, 2024

When Jesus instructed the leper to go to the priests and not tell anyone about how he was healed, He wasn’t doing it simply to be humble. He was being strategic. Jesus was just beginning to unfold His ministry. A ministry that would build momentum clear up until His death and resurrection. He wasn’t ready yet to make a lot of noise. He had a Plan.
But the leper’s excitement got the best of him. He was so thrilled to be healed that instead of telling no one, he told EVERYONE! He probably thought he was doing the right thing. Others needed to hear. Jesus deserved the praise and attention that would come His way. What the man didn’t realize was that he just made Jesus’ job harder because now Jesus needed to hide Himself a bit to keep things quiet.
Another thought that hit me when I was reflecting on this is I wonder if the leper actually received the social healing that Jesus wanted him to have by going to the priests and following the law. No matter what Jesus did, the man wasn’t considered “clean” by the community until the priests declared it so. I wonder if he was received by his family. I wonder if he was accepted by his community. I wonder if he was allowed to go back to the synagogue or back into the temple. His enthusiastic disobedience may have cost him more than he could have ever imagined it would. Jesus has purpose in the way He does things. Thinking we can do things our way and it will be alright can be a costly arrogance.
Do things God’s way. Whatever He wants, whenever He wants, and however He wants. When God has shown you a particular path, follow it. When God has given you a certain task, see it through. When God has shown you what to do, just do it. Respect the fact there is purpose in His leading and strategy in His plans. When we do things our way, we not only get in the way of the Kingdom of God, but we will often suffer the blowback of consequences for ourselves. Our leper’s disobedience may have prevented a fellow leper from being healed as well as creating problems for himself. Doing the wrong thing with good intentions is still doing the wrong thing. Just obey. That’s God’s Word for you today.