Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

Matthew 8:4 NLT

In this story Matthew writes as much about what Jesus says here as the whole story of the crowd, the person with leprosy, and the miraculous healing. 

I wonder why?

Jesus is saying don't run around and make a YouTube video or write a book or become Instagram famous about what happened to you, follow the practice of the culture, go see the priest and pay the fee, don't make a big deal of this. 

I wonder if Jesus was concerned that the healing would become the thing, the focus. That our human propensity to look for and want a spectacular story would distract people rather than help them see that God is here, that we'd miss who Jesus IS. 

The person who was healed, their life then would be that living testimony to God's healing, maybe that's what we're supposed to get. It's not about an event, a moment, but a life well lived as a result?

#wordsofJesus

#redletterBible

#somethingtochewon

#alifewelllived