Life is a gift. Jesus specializes in giving life to those who live as outsiders.
Compassionately, Jesus went for this not so in-group. The ones who didn’t quite fit in. The ones who struggled to stand on their feet. Where trying to be enough, isn’t enough.
In Matthew 8, three types of people groups are represented.
- The leprosy-inflicted. Ostracized, they are forced to live away from all townsfolk.
- The Gentiles. The Jews deemed them unclean to eat, visit their homes, or fellowship with. The Gentile slaves were also regarded unclean, but possessed no rights.
- The women. Their status was not on equal keel to the men. A population count like the feeding of the 5,000 wouldn’t include them.
Jesus desired their story of suffering and deliverance shared with us. Nameless, but significant to God.
- A leprosy man who approaches Jesus. He kneels in humility before Jesus. Jesus heals him and gives him new life.
- A Roman centurion’s Gentile slave. A servant, paralyzed and pain-stricken. Jesus heals him and gives him new life.
- Peter’s mother-in-law. A woman, elderly, ill, weak, bedridden. Jesus’ touch heals her and gives her new life.
What they all have in common. Unknown, but loved. Unrecognized, but renewed.
Jesus’ ministry extends itself to those who exist in the fringes. The untouchables, inferior, and excluded.
Life is a gift. And Jesus welcomed and gifted the least of these.
Beloved, have you ever felt unknown, unloved, or unwelcomed? Jesus offers the gift of life and renewed life. Will you receive it?
When you find yourself living in the fringes. Embrace Jesus’ gift. Embrace the Real Truth.