Despite the small size of my current home, it can still be difficult to speak to someone in different areas of the place. If the washing machine or dryer is running, communication is all but impossible.
For some reason, my boys continually want to talk about their latest Pokemon conquest or happenings from school, while they are upstairs in their room and I am downstairs in the living room. I have to repeatedly tell them to come downstairs if they want to talk to me.
But what if they couldn't? What if the steps were missing and instead there was a giant gapping hole? I could repeatedly and incessantly ask them to come downstairs to talk, but it would do no good. They would not have the ability to do so, no matter what I said.
In reading the Old Testament simultaneously with the New Testament, I'm struck by how the Old Testament so often presents the problems in humanity, while the New Testament presents the solution in Christ. We may be far removed from God, but Christ has bridged the gap. He brings near the far.
Leviticus speaks of all of the things that could possible make one unclean. You could list a large number of things that brought about uncleanness. One of the major ones was skin diseases. If it persisted, they had to be removed from the camp to prevent it from spreading and contaminating others.
This practice continued during the New Testament time. You find those with leprosy outside of the town by themselves, away from any one who was not infected. It was a lonely, isolated life. They were far away from their family and friends, without much hope of return.
Then, Jesus.
That could sum up just about all of life couldn't. Something bad was going on, but "Then, Jesus." We were lost in our sin. Then, Jesus. We had no access to God. Then, Jesus. Death was victorious. Then. Jesus. Sin was our master. Then, Jesus.
Lepers were outside of the town, forced to be away from everyone else. Then, Jesus.
In Matthew 26:6, Jesus is at the home of Simon, "one who had a skin disease." Not only is Simon no longer outside of the town, away from his home, disconnected from his family, he is hosting a dinner for Jesus. The Savior is reclining at his table.
He may still be Simon the Leper to some, but he is no longer Simon the far away. He is home. He is near. Jesus has brought near the far. He has taken those who were rejected in the Old Testament and brought them near.
I think of yesterday's post and the Ohio school shooter who "didn't really have a group." The Church should be the group for the groupless. We should be out working, sacrificing, living to bring near the far.
Those who are on the outskirts, whether they are put there by themselves or society, should know they are loved and should be drawn near by Christ in us. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we must be out bringing near the far.
Obviously, we can't do that spiritually. We don't have the ability to save anyone. However, we can love someone. We can show them Christ. We can live life the way we are called to live it. We can demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel. Those who were far will be confronted with the nearness of God. Then, Jesus.
For some reason, my boys continually want to talk about their latest Pokemon conquest or happenings from school, while they are upstairs in their room and I am downstairs in the living room. I have to repeatedly tell them to come downstairs if they want to talk to me.
But what if they couldn't? What if the steps were missing and instead there was a giant gapping hole? I could repeatedly and incessantly ask them to come downstairs to talk, but it would do no good. They would not have the ability to do so, no matter what I said.
In reading the Old Testament simultaneously with the New Testament, I'm struck by how the Old Testament so often presents the problems in humanity, while the New Testament presents the solution in Christ. We may be far removed from God, but Christ has bridged the gap. He brings near the far.
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| Photo from reality check |
This practice continued during the New Testament time. You find those with leprosy outside of the town by themselves, away from any one who was not infected. It was a lonely, isolated life. They were far away from their family and friends, without much hope of return.
Then, Jesus.
That could sum up just about all of life couldn't. Something bad was going on, but "Then, Jesus." We were lost in our sin. Then, Jesus. We had no access to God. Then, Jesus. Death was victorious. Then. Jesus. Sin was our master. Then, Jesus.
Lepers were outside of the town, forced to be away from everyone else. Then, Jesus.
In Matthew 26:6, Jesus is at the home of Simon, "one who had a skin disease." Not only is Simon no longer outside of the town, away from his home, disconnected from his family, he is hosting a dinner for Jesus. The Savior is reclining at his table.
He may still be Simon the Leper to some, but he is no longer Simon the far away. He is home. He is near. Jesus has brought near the far. He has taken those who were rejected in the Old Testament and brought them near.
I think of yesterday's post and the Ohio school shooter who "didn't really have a group." The Church should be the group for the groupless. We should be out working, sacrificing, living to bring near the far.
Those who are on the outskirts, whether they are put there by themselves or society, should know they are loved and should be drawn near by Christ in us. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we must be out bringing near the far.
Obviously, we can't do that spiritually. We don't have the ability to save anyone. However, we can love someone. We can show them Christ. We can live life the way we are called to live it. We can demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel. Those who were far will be confronted with the nearness of God. Then, Jesus.
