Message: The Gaze of Jesus
I would like to proceed with the story from the Gospel of Luke.
There are many scenes in the Bible where Jesus healed many sick people.
In addition to healing the diseases Jesus helped those that were poor, hungry, sad and despised through his compassion and love.
In this part of Bible, Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem with his disciples.
In Jerusalem, he was about to be crucified on the cross.
The journey began from the north of Galilee, through Samaria, and to Judea, where the city of Jerusalem was located.
When Jesus and his disciples went into a village, they met 10 people who were afflicted by skin disease.
They were not allowed to approach Jesus because of their illness.
So they pleaded from afar, saying, "Jesus! Teacher! Please give us your mercy!"
Jesus saw them and responded immediately. "Go and show yourself to the priest."
The Bible doesn't elaborate situation in detail but people followed His word and left there right away.
Let’ take a moment to reflect on the story.
The ten patients were not yet healed at this point.
Jesus spoke and the patients followed his instruction immediately.
It's amazing, isn't it? How could they believe his words?
If it was me, I might have a question and asked, “We haven't been cleansed yet. Will it be okay to go in front of the priest?"
Now, how would you have responded to Jesus?
They were healed on their way. One of them, a Samaritan noticed that and he started to run back to Jesus and he was shouting with joy and calling out the name of Jesus.
When he saw Jesus, he fell on his knees and thanked him.
Jesus said "Your faith has healed you."
Another translation says, "Your faith saved you."
What is the point of this story?
I have been thinking about what Jesus said above. It must be a paradox.
Jesus has the ability of healing and also Only He has the right and power of saving human beings not me, not you.
Why Jesus told like that?
Faith should not be forced because God gave us free will to choose our way or God's way. It is all our responsibility to choose either path.
In everyday of our life, people make choices whether they are conscious or not depending on the environment, culture, unique ideas, common sense, and new knowledge.
For example, when you read the Bible or listen to the message of Jesus we interpret the meaning based on our knowledge and life situations.
People who have grown up like Christian home since childhood it may be easier to accept the Christianity as their own religion.
But, some people will oppose it even in the same environment.
On the other hand, some lived under a strict Buddhist world but became great disciples of Christ. And there were Yakuzas who got the faith and brought many people to Christ.
How people's lives change is really hard to imagine, right?
For the one, Samaritan, the choice was to return to Jesus and follow His way.
Would you like to follow and walk with Him all the way of your life.?