Lenten Thoughts: Matthew 26:6

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

Jesus is a guest in the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. Simon, of course, was no longer a leper at this point; if Jesus had not healed him, he would not have been allowed among the people, even in his own home. Even so, though Simon was now healed and able to freely enter into the social and spiritual life of the community, he still carried the stigma of having been a leper. He was still being identified as 'Simon, the Leper.'

I love this verse because I see myself as Simon--one who was unclean but has now been made clean by the blood of Christ. Like Simon, I can have fellowship with God because of Christ's sacrifice and His intercession.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.