I've had some pretty bad nicknames. When your legal name is Richard, it doesn't exactly make it difficult for name-callers. But even I feel bad for Simon the Leper.
Apparently people in the first century weren't very good with last names. And since there were a bunch of people with the same first name, your identity became unique by some other marker. Can you guess how Simon the Leper got his name? It's not difficult.
Simon was evidently the only Simon people knew who had suffered with leprosy. But it must have been a thing of the past, because Jesus is at his house. Leprosy was something that made people live outside city limits, with other lepers. With no modern meds and no known cure, it was a segregated life for lepers. So for Simon to be back home, he must have been cured, probably by his house guest, Jesus.
What strikes me about this story is that it has nothing to do with Simon or his leprosy. We're merely told where Jesus is at. In fact, the major part of the story is that Mary, sister of Martha, came and anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume. (We'll save that part of the story for another post.)
Simon the Leper is mentioned because of who he is with. Seems like a good reminder for the rest of us.
Some of us are known by things in our past. Be it sin or habits, or even silly details from a summer camp. Some of us are recognized for one part of our lives, math whiz, jock, computer dork...or maybe just a regular dork. It doesn't matter that the rest of us is ignored, most of us have a label.
But it doesn't matter. It's not who you are. It's who you are with.
If I were Simon, I would have invited Jesus to my house that day too. And as I was spreading the word, I would have made sure people knew where to go. The invite would have read;
Apparently people in the first century weren't very good with last names. And since there were a bunch of people with the same first name, your identity became unique by some other marker. Can you guess how Simon the Leper got his name? It's not difficult.
Simon was evidently the only Simon people knew who had suffered with leprosy. But it must have been a thing of the past, because Jesus is at his house. Leprosy was something that made people live outside city limits, with other lepers. With no modern meds and no known cure, it was a segregated life for lepers. So for Simon to be back home, he must have been cured, probably by his house guest, Jesus.
What strikes me about this story is that it has nothing to do with Simon or his leprosy. We're merely told where Jesus is at. In fact, the major part of the story is that Mary, sister of Martha, came and anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume. (We'll save that part of the story for another post.)
Simon the Leper is mentioned because of who he is with. Seems like a good reminder for the rest of us.
Some of us are known by things in our past. Be it sin or habits, or even silly details from a summer camp. Some of us are recognized for one part of our lives, math whiz, jock, computer dork...or maybe just a regular dork. It doesn't matter that the rest of us is ignored, most of us have a label.
But it doesn't matter. It's not who you are. It's who you are with.
If I were Simon, I would have invited Jesus to my house that day too. And as I was spreading the word, I would have made sure people knew where to go. The invite would have read;
Jesus Party
@
Simon the Leper's House
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