EVERY LIFE VALUED
Matthew 8:1–4, 14–17; 9:1–8
Leprosy (8:1–4)
Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday across the Southern Baptist Convention. Every life is valuable because each is a unique creation of God. In verses 1–4, we see Jesus reaching out to the shunned, the stigmatized and the outcast.
Leprosy in the Bible was a disfiguring skin infection that damaged the nerves and caused the sufferer to be cast out from society. The leper was considered ritually unclean and was socially excluded. They were commanded to warn others from coming in contact with them.
This particular leper had heard about Jesus’ miraculous healing power and believed that Jesus could heal him. He sought out Jesus and worshipped Him. As we can see in verses 5–13, Jesus had the ability to speak a word and heal from a distance. However, it was important for Jesus to touch this “untouchable” man.
I remember in the early days of the HIV crisis when Princess Diana visited patients and shook their hands without wearing gloves, trying to show compassion during a fearful time.
In this passage, Jesus shows a wonderful sign of compassion to a stigmatized group. Are there people in our world today who are considered untouchable?
Fever and demon possession (14–17)
In this section, we see that Jesus’ healing power reached across the physical realm into the spiritual. I have visited Peter’s house in Capernaum. It was there that Jesus became aware that Peter’s mother-in-law was very sick with fever. Again, we see the healing touch of Jesus. When He touched her hand, the fever left her. She quickly recovered to the point of being able to serve Jesus and the others. There was a belief in Jesus’ day that sicknesses were the result of sin.
While some sinful behavior can manifest in the physical realm, Jesus was bringing healing and deliverance in every sphere. People flocked to Jesus as the answer to their greatest needs. I’m reminded of the Bill Gaither song “He Touched Me.”
Paralysis (9:1–8)
Matthew gives witness to Jesus’ power to heal physical sickness and disease. Jesus cast demons out of two men and into a herd of swine. We see that He also had power over nature as He calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee. As chapter 9 begins, we see the account of a group of men bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. This story is recounted in Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26. I love the mentality of these friends. They believed that if they could just get their friend to Jesus, He could radically change the situation.
Remember the two wonderful words “suddenly” and “immediately” that are always in play when Jesus is involved. However, Jesus wanted to communicate a greater truth than mere physical healing.
He wanted to teach that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” This authority is granted only to God. Jesus forgave this man’s sins and also blessed him with physical healing. Between the two, spiritual forgiveness was the greater gift because forgiveness is the greatest need of man. “We are healed by His wounds” speaks to our ultimate spiritual healing (Isa. 53:5). On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, let’s remember that every life — every life — is of value to our Lord!
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
