While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said, “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
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Jesus was not afraid to disengage from the people. He would often go to lonely places…in other words, alone…and pray. In our culture, before this pandemic, it was go, go, go. Hopefully, we have learned a valuable lesson in being able to slow down. This passage speaks directly to me today. I stress about whether “people” think I am doing enough, or if I believe I am doing enough. This usually keeps me in “church” mode when I should be in “family” mode or even “God” mode. I have a hard time shutting down. I’ve tried to designate a day to relax and stay away from ministry related things. But what I’m leaving out is the fact that Jesus withdrew…TO PRAY. There was intention behind His disengagement. Me, I just waste the day. Maybe you’re like me…and you need to be able to disengage. But let’s be more intentional with it. Let’s allow God, in those moments, to fill us up again, instead of everything else.
A Journey With Jesus 