One Year Bible, Wednesday, February 23rd - Sacrifices Made by the Priests for Uncleanliness - Jesus Feeds Five Thousand with the Disciples' Help
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"The priest shall go out of the camp: When it was believed that someone was healed of leprosy, arrangements were made for the priest to examine the afflicted person. The leper did not come to the tabernacle; the priest went out of the camp to the community of lepers to make the examination." (Guzik)
We need to remember three things, as we read about all of these things that would cause someone to be called "unclean". To be unclean was ...
1. A danger to the person.
2. A danger to the community.
3. A metaphor for the power of sin if it is not dealt with. It causes damage to the person and also to the community.
That is why today sacrifices are offered just as sacrifices were made for sin. Once again animals, in this case birds, are used as a the sacrifice.
Also, we see today that whether it was the leper, or the mold and mildew in the home, the disease needed to be completely eradicated in every way possible. And it need removed as far away from the community. The unclean parts were taken outside of the camp and completely burned and/or destroyed.
The sores on the leper or the mildew in the homes represented the insidious and pervasive nature of sin. Once sin starts, it seeks to infiltrate every part of a person's life and ultimately destroy it completely. And the bottom line again is that Jesus came to destroy and eradicate sin in our lives by conqueering it on the cross. And when Jesus was resurrected he claimed victory over sin, death and the power of the devil.
After all of their teaching and healing conferences were over, Jesus and the disciples were tired. Jesus recognized it, and they set off by boat to a quiet place to get some rest. But unfortunately the crowds were on to them. They actually guessed where they were going in the boat and raced over to the other side to meet them. Though Jesus was tired, he realized how helpless they were and couldn't just walk away. He had compassion on and for them.
There are many times in life when we are tired and just want a break. At those times people come to us needing help. Often we think that we are just too tired to deal with it. Let's see what Jesus taught his disciples when this happened to them.
The disciples weren't too excited about it either. At that time of day where were these hungry people going to get something to eat. So they thought it would be a good idea for Jesus to send them away where they could get some food. After all it was their day off.
The disciples gave Jesus what they had. It was sufficient. Jesus took what they had and multiplied it so that all ate and were satisfied. And there were leftovers. When we give God what we have, even as meager as it might seem to us, he can multiply so that everybody will get what they need and be satisfied. What a great picture of what God has done for us in Christ, and what he can do with us, as we give him back our lives.
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