The Relentless Cycle: How Jesus Breaks It

Sin, judgment, retribution. Sin, judgment, retribution.

It’s a relentless cycle. And scripture, in both Old and New Testaments, makes it painfully clear that no one is freed from it. No one, no matter their social status, their courage, their godliness, their experience—no one is freed from that horrible cycle.

Breaking the Cycle

No one, that is, until the eighth chapter of Matthew, where we find the record of not one but three miraculous healings. After the final one, Matthew writes: “This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’” (Matt. 8:17).

And there it is. Only there, in other words, in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, is that terrible, horrible cycle of sin, judgment, retribution, in fact, completely broken. It’s the only place in the universe where that happens.

And that’s actually what Matthew is trying to demonstrate in these miracle stories. Frederick Bruner, the New Testament scholar, calls these three miracles three “outside” miracles. And what he means is that in each case, these are people who, according to the law, deserved God’s judgment: Those possessed by demons. The servant of a Gentile, one outside the covenant. A leper. All of these bore in their body this same cycle that was continuing to spin. And Matthew makes the point of saying that’s exactly where Jesus goes to break that cycle: to those on the outside.

“Lord, If You Choose”

Which is why at the top of the list is not a member of the elite or the king’s household, but a leper. The one who more than in any other category would be considered entirely outside the covenant and, in fact, under the judgment of God. And so Matthew goes into extraordinary detail to talk about how Jesus breaks through, both in terms of what is exemplified in the faith of the leper as well as how Jesus responds.

Notice what the leper says. First of all, he approaches Jesus by literally falling on his face. The Greek word here is proskuneo, to worship or kiss the hand. It’s an act of obeisance, and it’s exemplified in how he addresses Jesus, calling him “Lord” (Matt. 8:2b). Not even “Rabbi,” but “Lord.” All of which is meant to represent the fact that he actually understands who Jesus is.

But notice there’s no presumption. He says, “If you choose” (Matt. 8:2b). He does not say, “If you can.” He knows he can. But instead he says, “If you choose.” He recognizes that it is Jesus’ decision, the Lord’s decision, to heal. Or not, in this situation. He never steps, in other words, into the position of presumption and demand. He’s confident; he approaches him, something that is way outside the boundaries for even him to do. He acknowledges him as Lord but never approaches him in a demanding way as if somehow he was an equal. He still says, “If you choose,” and notice, “you can make me clean” (Matt. 8:2c).

A declaration of his lordship, the declaration of his complete power in this situation to make a difference, and yet, “Oh Lord, you’re the Lord and I am not, and the call is entirely yours.”

“I do choose.”

And notice how Jesus responds. The first thing he does is break the cycle by reaching out and touching the man. And in fact, in the Greek it means “to grab.” It’s not putting his hand on the man’s shoulder. He literally puts all of his hand on that leper’s body.

Can you imagine somebody with leprosy, who (probably ever since he contracted the disease) had never, ever been touched by anyone?

Not only does Jesus touch him; he says what he’s doing by the touch: “I do choose” (Matt. 8:3b). In other words, he takes the man at his word. In other words, “If you choose” (Matt. 8:2b).

“Yes, I can, and I will. I do choose.” And then he says, “Be made clean” (Matt. 8:3c). And immediately, the leper was cleansed.

The rest of the passage is the P.S. “I want other people to know about this.” Notice, he says, “Offer [this] . . . as a testimony to them” (Matt. 8:4c). in other words, “Go show them the fact that you could have been healed. Make the offering. Be welcomed back in the pew. You are no longer an outsider. You’re an insider. But you’re an insider who declares who I am and what I have done in your life.”

Everything about that just sort of sings to me. It sings to me because it breaks entirely the cycle of “God, are you paying attention and are you worthy?” or “God, I know you’re out there, but are you actually concerned about me?” or worse, “God, are you out there and are you, can you do anything about what’s going on in my life?”

He says, “I can.”

So this passage is an invitation to anyone who’s ever felt like he or she was an outsider, for whatever reason. To come, to call him Lord, to place ourselves under his hands and to know that he will, just as he did with the leper, reach out and touch our flesh and say, “I can.”

Because that’s who he is. Breaking the cycle of sin, judgment, retribution. Bearing the judgment and speaking forgiveness, mercy, and healing. Forever and ever. Amen.

Have you ever felt like an outsider, trapped in the relentless cycle? How has Jesus invited you in? Share this blog and your response on Twitter. Please include my username, @revgregbrewer.

(This post is an adaption of Bishop Brewer’s sermon on June 23, 2016, in the Bishop’s Oratory of the Diocesan Office, Orlando.)

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.