Soul Scientist

I learned something new today. I hope you might be encouraged like I was. This knowledge opened a new view of grace to me in the sacred ordinary of each and every day with my Jesus today and all the tomorrows yet to come.

During Christ’s time here on earth, those with leprosy were considered unclean. Thus, most everyone (except Jesus, that is) did everything they could to avoid lepers. No one wanted the elaborate rituals required to become clean after contact with a leper nor the risk of disease transference to them or others.

Yet when a leper was healed, he or she went to the high priest to be examined and declared clean. And after this declaration, the former leper was expected to shave his head and eyebrows as a sign to all that he’d been healed.

For the leper, this act of hair removal announced a new life, a rebirth, if you will. The healed leper could then return home with a new life in front of him or her.

Keeping all this in mind, the proclamation of healing by the priest and following expectation of new life brought tears to my eyes earlier today while listening to a sermon on Luke 5:12-16. Sure, I’d heard many a sermon and Sunday school lesson about the healing of the lepers by Jesus. Yes, I’d even heard that Jesus didn’t just speak or think of healing, but He reached out and touched the leper. Jesus’ expression of compassion exceeded hopes and dreams not just because of the healing, but the awareness and love shown in the method of healing with a touch from Him.

But the knowledge of the healing and the physical signs of the healing was what brought tears to my eyes.

My tears weren’t just from gratitude to God for caring for me in chronic illness or cancer. My tears weren’t just from the gracious nature of those who’ve cared for us in these days of cancer treatment.

My tears were from the word picture of that healed leper with shaven head and eyebrows leaping, dancing, shouting, crying, singing because of one touch from Jesus.

My tears were from the truth that my Jesus will be with me in all places at all times with all peoples.

He is with me now and will be with me forever. And He is with those who automatically take a step back with one look at my facemask or beanie cap.

Jesus loves them just like He loves me.

I cling to this solid unchanging truth – Jesus is here for the singing and weeping, dancing and grieving, shouting and whispering, tears and laughter. He doesn’t turn away or leave (see Hebrews 13:5-6). He is the Way-maker, Joy-bringer, Life-giver, Lifter-of-heads, and strength of my heart and my portion forever (see Psalm 73:26).

My heart and eyes are full of brimming over thankfulness with this realization – every time I look in the mirror with my shaven head and rapidly disappearing eyebrows I’m seeing my Jesus at work in, through, and for me. His work is always for good, even if the good requires scars, pain, nausea, rashes, medical tests and bills, and other unwanted companions in my everyday life (see Philippians 1:6 and Romans 8:28).

In other words, Jesus is changing me with His goodness at all times, in all ways, for His good plan. And I think my outside is starting to reflect my inside in how Jesus sees me as I really am…

I am that leper who’s been healed from sin’s eternal sickness. I am that prodigal who’s been welcomed home with wide-open arms, singing, lots of love, a table prepared for feasting, and many tears of joy (see Luke 15:11-32, Zephaniah 3:17, and Psalm chapter 23). I am that prisoner who’s been set free from fear and failure and released into tenacity and triumph. .

Jesus knows my past, present, and yet-to-come. Yet in all of that, He loves me.

Likewise, Jesus knows your past, present, and yet-to-come. And He loves you, no matter where you’ve been or are or could be.

Now is always a good time to come home for the first time or for the first time in a long time. Please don’t wait a day or a decade longer to turn around and see Jesus waiting for you with open arms (see Matthew 11:28-30).

His touch is ready to heal you.

His love is ready to set you free.

written by Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025.