I have always enjoyed movies about superheroes. I enjoy their stories and the adventures of how they discovered the hero inside of them. I was thinking about our worship team today. I believe a characteristic of being a part of a leadership team, is that heroic moments emerge from them when the situation demands. Now, there’s a difference between a HERO like Iron Man and a HERO like the Green Arrow. Iron man saves lives and will create a parade in his own honor so that everyone may sing his praises and know his greatness, his nobility and sacrifice. On the other hand, an individual like the Green Arrow would do anything in his power to maintain anonymity despite his desire to erase injustice.
All those super heroes are great, but I woke up with a thought of one more hero that exhibited this trait, and I even have a term for it…
Saving lives in secret
Matthew 8:1-4 says: "As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, 'Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.' Jesus put his hand on the man and said, 'I want to! Now you are well.' At once the man's leprosy disappeared. Jesus told him, 'Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed.'"
Jesus in the midst of a very busy schedule, though he had a lot of people following him was willing to engage in a semi private moment with a leper that was there. FYI, Lepers were not allowed to be amongst the people and they had to continually remind the world and be reminded themselves that they were outcast, unclean and not to be touched. Yet Jesus stops, interacts and places his hands on him before healing him, and says “I want to… I am willing…”
Out of a place of amazing love and acceptance, the man was instantly healed and he was able to restore this former leper to community and relationship. And he specifically asks him not to tell anyone, and instructs him on how to be reconciled to God, and how to integrate back into community in full health and restoration.
I believe that this is our call as a followers of Jesus to remain available for superhero duties; saving lives in secret and instructing them how to be reconciled to God and to their community. I think it is important to let those you are raising up to know that the ticker tape parade is in heaven, not here... and mos superhero work goes unrecognized. Take some time to reflect on these things and allow space in your world for the work of our superhero(Jesus). God is about to entrust many more lives to us, and I ask that we prep our hearts to save lives in secret, instruct people how to become reconciled to God and how to move back into a place of live and health in their community.
