From disease to healing; from avoiding people to pointing them to Jesus

The Garden Tomb

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13

Simon the leper hosting Jesus and the disciples in his home. Many times, I passed over the mention of Simon the leper and focused on the woman who anointed Jesus. 

I missed Simon the leper until God healed me of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. After God’s healing touch, Simon the leper leaped out at me.

Undoubtedly Jesus had healed Simon. Jesus healed all who came to Him. Healing was the result of being near Jesus.

Yet, Simon continued to be associated with leprosy.

For the 15 years that I had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, I was careful to hide my limitations. I only told the people I needed to tell. For that decade and a half, I smiled through the pain, the sleeplessness, the hopelessness.

After God healed me, I told all who would listen about His great work. I reminded listeners that there is no cure for fibromyalgia. Almost every week, I still have the opportunity to tell someone … three years after God’s healing.

I’m proud to identify with the fibro that used to limit me. Through God’s healing grace, I can say, “Look what God did for me. He wants to work in your life, too.”

What an honor Jesus gave Simon the leper. Not only would people look at Simon and marvel at his healing, but they would also wonder at Jesus in Simon’s home on the day that He was prepared for burial.

My prayer for you

Father, thank You for Your healing grace. Thank You for using the broken, the diseased, the weak. Thank You for using Simon the leper to point people to Jesus. Enable us to rest in You, to watch You at work in our lives, and to point others to Jesus. We love you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus.