Dining with Lepers

Dining with Lepers
Words of Faith 3-15-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 14
[3] While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper...

Jesus knew the hours were few and precious, but he visited an old friend in Bethany, just about two miles from Jerusalem. His name was Simon. His nickname was "Simon the Leper".
You can bet that Simon's nickname didn't start as a term of endearment. Simon had apparently spent some part of his life with the dread disease leprosy. He had been declared "unclean" ritually by a priest. He had been separated from family and friends and condemned to life in a leper colony. But that had apparently changed. Lepers did not give dinner parties. Somehow, he had been healed (cleansed).
How? We do not know, but Jesus had cleansed several lepers during his three-year ministry. At one time, Jesus cleansed (healed) ten lepers at once. Many think that Simon gave this special dinner party to thank his friend Jesus, who gave him his life back. Jesus accepted the invitation even though His hours could not have been more precious.
What a wonderful evening that must have been. Something extraordinary will happen at this dinner, but the dinner itself was exceptional. Friends may have been invited just to hear the testimony of Simon "the Leper" as he told them what it was like to have no connection with the people you love. Now, you can celebrate the upcoming Passover with friends and family. During a week when Jesus did not have much time, he had time for this. Time for joy. Time for celebration. Time for thanksgiving. Time to enjoy friends. I wish I could have heard Simon's testimony that night.
But Jesus had other things on His mind. He would have been focused on this time seasoned with laughter and tears. But He had to at least realize that this was the last time He would eat with these friends. Mary and Martha must have been there with their brother Lazarus, who had been raised dead. They were prominent citizens in Bethany. Lazarus may have even shared his testimony after dinner. Martha might have shared how angry she had been when Jesus did not show up in time, and Lazarus was dead, only to have Jesus ask for the tomb to be opened. And then to hear from Lazarus in his own words the memory of events and what it was like to be dead four days only to hear the voice of Jesus calling him back to life! It must have been one of those nights that went on and on in the hope that it would never end. Telling the stories. Laughing at how silly they must have seemed at times. Enjoying His presence. And all the while, Jesus knew that the hours were short, but this was time well spent. A time when he relaxed. He reclined for the evening.
Question. Do you take time to celebrate? I don't mean formal worship; I mean celebrating with friends in the Lord who have experienced His grace. When was the last time you had a few friends over to share what the Lord has done in your life? Don't have time? Jesus did. Jesus did, just hours away from the cross. There is a powerful message here about life, love, and friendships in times that are often more fleeting than we know. While in Bethany, Jesus reclined at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper.

Lord, give me the grace to recline. Give me the grace to choose the critical times to be with people. Sometimes, I get so busy that I miss the laughter. I miss the joy. I miss the meals in the homes of those set free. Give me the grace to slow down, even when things seem urgent. Teach me to listen for the voices of testimony around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.