When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17
In the skit The Rag Man, Jesus is depicted as a wandering traveler who encounters people with emotional, physical and spiritual hurts, pains, and sin. He gives them a clean rag from his own body and takes upon himself their filthy one. He calls out “rags, rags, new rags for old, rags, rags, who needs rags”. By the end of the skit the “Rag Man” is so burdened he can barely walk, for with each rag he exchanges, he bears the shame, guilt, pain and bodily harm.
Isaiah saw ahead of time in his mind’s eye that the Savior of the world would do the same. He met Peter’s mother in Capernaum and demonstrated the same idea as He took her fever, sickness and pain away. The most amazing truth is that Jesus takes our sin away and replaces it with righteousness. “He who never knew sin, became sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God, in Him”.
What rags do I need to exchange today?
Lord Jesus, examine me in every way and take the old, terrible, worst rags and replace them. Wrap me in Your righteousness.
