PEOPLE OF THE MOUNTAINSIDE

You may gain a further understanding of the meditation that follows, by the reading of the suggested scriptures. The Editorial Notes at the end of the post may also prove to be beneficial)

Suggested Scripture Readings: Psalm 121: I will lift up my eyes unto the hills – My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Matthew 8:1 – 2

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed Him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him, and said, “Lord, if you are willing You can make me clean. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.
” I am willing, “He said, ” Be clean .”

The large crowds that followed Jesus down the mountainside had just looked in upon heaven through an open door! Because of the sermon that Jesus preached to them, these people had seen God. The challenge that is now disturbingly theirs is to live with the scent of Heaven still clinging to them! How does one ever live a life of grace in the valley of human woes?

We must avail ourselves of every possible way to appropriate the Gospel. It is not enough to hear it with our ears. It is the critical belief of Christendom, that ‘The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.’ We must never permit the Gospel to become words only; for unless there throbs throughout the world the vitality of a living union with the Risen Christ, the dark demonic forces of the age will not meet their match. In this regard, the words of the beloved Robert Louis Stevenson are pertinent. ” If a person were to make a certain effort in imagination and would read the gospel freshly, it would startle and move anyone !” (1)
I invite you to join me in the effort in imagination in this particular incident from the Gospel, ( Matthew 8: 1 – 4) with the view to making it “Flesh” again rather than “word” alone.
As best I can I will assume the identity of this unfortunate valley dweller, whose encounter with Jesus, one evening, results in his passing with Him through the gates of a new life.

My name is Job, son of Issachar, of the tribe of Benjamine. My biographers neglected to give you that information. The only point they remember to tell you is the most horrific feature of my life, namely, ” I am a man with leprosy.”
That is just the way life is here in the valley. The value of an individual’s life is often determined by the color of his skin, or by the style of clothes he wears. The tribe to which one belongs is a warning of predictable behavior and the determining factor concerning his destiny in this world.

It wasn’t always like that in this valley, but of late the atmosphere is repugnant with self-absorption, hatred, and mistrust; like malignant tumors, which are destroying the moral and ethical fabric of this ‘vale of soul-making.’

I would have dearly loved to accompany the crowd, from the valley up the mountainside to hear Jesus speak, and see Him equip His followers with the lamp of hope. The thought did cross my mind that perhaps someone from the valley might come and offer to help me up the rugged mountain path. I waited, I dreamt, I even prepared myself as best I could, hoping, that someone would think of me. But nobody came!  “After all, you do have leprosy”! I offered in an attempt to curb my disappointment.” Who is going to touch someone with this horrible disease? No one is willing to go that far!”

I am a man with leprosy! But I am a living soul! That outweighs all other considerations. This disease may well lay this rusting heap of humanity in a grave by-and-by, but my soul is immortal! In the final analysis, neither the color of a person’s skin, nor the clothes he wears, nor the tribe or nation of origin, matters. It is the red blood of decency that gives one the courage to take the hand of one being persecuted and walk up the mountain with them to discover a new life. That is the victory that God is planning. It will yet change this broken world!
There is a twofold reason why Jesus came down from the mountainside and into the valley that day, I believe. In the first place, it gave visual expression of God’s longing for all people to share in the experience of unconditional love. It was to meet all those who, through no fault of their own, are unable to join the crowds on the mountainside. It is the will of the Creator that each of His children in this world feels the caring embrace of His arms, as well as the tender compassion of those members of the human family who profess to own that experience. No one must ever be left behind or driven away through the inhumane and corrupt ideologies adopted by other humans.
There are large crowds following Jesus down the mountainside into the valley! I see them with clearer vision; I feel a strange stirring in my heart. Fear and hope are invading my soul at the same instant. Then a barrage of searing images overtakes me numbing my brain:’ I do not belong here, I am different, the law forbids a person with leprosy to mix in the company of other people. I look in every direction expecting to see the authorities rushing towards me to arrest me for violating that law.
All of a sudden there is a tremendous burst of HOPE like the most glorious dawn I have ever witnessed. It must be the full glory of heaven that fills the valley. He walks toward me. Jesus comes to me! My response is unthinkable. But it is the only thing I can do. Breaking every law in man’s book, I kneel at His feet and cry out:”Jesus, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”And then, O then, the very arches of heaven ring out, and the sound echoes in the surrounding hills of the valley. He touched me! O,” He reached out His hand and touched me.” And I know for certain that I am a child of God! And nothing nor anyone can ever change that!
” Man’s inhumanity to man” still slithers its way into the valley. But there is in this valley today, the evidence of the transformation that follows when the will of God reigns. When Christ is leading the forward march of the crowds, victory is assured, and renewed help will always come from the mountain of God.

A PRAYER TO FOLLOW THIS MEDITATION
O God, we are homesick for more of Heaven’s influence to infiltrate our troubled and tormented world. We fear that there is much greater evidence that we have” conformed to the world” rather than transforming it, with the power of love.
(Romans 12:2). The evidence is overwhelming us.
Churches that have graced our skyline for generations have disappeared. Steeples that have long identified places of refuge and sanctuary now leave only empty spaces on the horizon. And many people, abandoning the simple trust in Your mercy to provide, are turning to’ the world of chance’ to see them through.” Lord have mercy upon us; Christ have mercy upon us.”
Open again we implore You, the Sky-Windows, so that your people in these troubled times, may learn again to look Heavenward! Loving God, help us to remember that it was from this direction  You descended one night, holding in Your arms a Baby whom You laid upon the world’s doorstep; and it was from this direction that the Holy Spirit descended to bring new beginnings to a weeping world. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Amen

Music:  You Raise Me Up  -Josh Gorban

https://youtu.be/oni0tO_HN30

 

EDITORIAL NOTES

The Biblical texts here are from the NIV (New International Version) unless otherwise indicated in the body of the meditation.

1.https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/robert_louis_stevenson

2. Music:  YouTube. you raise me up – Josh Gorban

3. Photo: Taken while vacationing in Arizona in 2016. I have given it the title: “Star Of Hope.”