The Miracles of Jesus Part 7: Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy
The Miracles of Jesus Part 7: Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy
Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-14. Jesus is willing to heal, is compassionate, and has the power to overcome the worst disease. We must also have faith.
“When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.””
Matthew 8:1-4 NASB1995
“And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”
Mark 1:40-45 NASB1995
“While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”
Luke 5:12-16 NASB1995
During Biblical times, one of the most dreaded diseases was leprosy. Numerous prohibitions about this disease and other skin ailments are found primarily in Leviticus 13 and 14 (definitely not recommended reading material at dinner time). Priests were given instructions in how to diagnose lepers and distinguish their skin lesions from other skin problems. A person suffering from leprosy was considered unclean and was exiled from the community, to be alone or with other sufferers of the disease. Lepers were required to wear torn clothing and be disheveled in appearance and cry out “unclean, unclean” when approaching other people. Encounters with lepers were second only to exposure to a dead body in terms of seriousness to the Jewish community. Leprosy was used, over and over again, as an example of the ravaging powers of sin.
So what is leprosy? This bacterial disease, also called Hansen’s disease after the Swedish physician G.A. Hansen who discovered the bacteria in 1973, is described as follows, from a Wikipedia article (the footnote references refer back to that article):
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis.[4][8] Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes.[4] This nerve damage may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of a person's extremities from repeated injuries or infection through unnoticed wounds.[3] An infected person may also experience muscle weakness and poor eyesight.[3] Leprosy symptoms may begin within one year, but, for some people, symptoms may take 20 years or more to occur.[4]
Leprosy is spread between people, although extensive contact is necessary.[3][9] Leprosy has a low pathogenicity, and 95% of people who contract M. leprae do not develop the disease.[10] Spread is thought to occur through a cough or contact with fluid from the nose of a person infected by leprosy.[9][10]Genetic factors and immune function play a role in how easily a person catches the disease.
Contrary to popular belief, a person’s extremities do not just “fall off” due to the disease, but nerve damage creates situations where you could injure a hand or foot and not feel it until a severe infection sets in, causing the loss of that extremity. Leprosy in this day and age is fairly rare, with only 208,619 cases confirmed in 2018 worldwide. The disease is also curable if caught early enough. It still has a stigma in our modern society and people are often isolated from others when they are diagnosed. Here is a map from that same Wikipedia article showing the distribution of this disease in 2015, which is predominately in developing countries:
Now, back to our miracle, which is so much more than a healing of a nasty disease. In the three Gospel passages, the circumstances are rather similar. In Matthew 8, the encounter happens right after the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). In Mark 1, the encounter ends that first long chapter and it occurs sometime after the Sabbath events (casting out of the demon, healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, healing of many). In Luke 5, the encounter happens in “one of the cities” after the fishing disciples permanently give up their livelihood to follow Jesus after the miraculous catch; the physician Luke describes the leprosy as covering the unfortunate man’s body.
The leper, who probably caused a serious commotion among the disciples traveling with Jesus who think of the ancient prohibitions (Jesus is aware of these prohibitions, too, but He looks beyond that), bows before Jesus or falls on his knees before him and says the same thing in all three Gospels: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus, demonstrating His endless compassion, answers with the same response in all three Gospels: “I am willing; be cleansed”. Note another thing: The leper assumed that Jesus had the power to heal him. He didn’t say “If you can heal me”, he said “if you are willing”. The leper knew that he was an “untouchable”, a person beyond hope, except for the hope we have through Jesus.
Jesus then does something completely electrifying as He replies. He stretches out His hand and touches the suffering man. The man is completely cleansed of disease instantly, demonstrating His incredible power. Jesus didn’t need to touch the man to heal him. A word, said safely at a distance, or even a thought would have sufficed (I wrote that before I read the Guzik testimony included below). But the depth of love He demonstrated for that man by touching him physically should make all of us fall on our knees in gratitude to Him.
As is quite often the case in one of these miracles, He asks the man to keep quiet about his healing, but to go and show the priests as a testimony and perform the proper offering as defined in the law of Moses for a person who is healed or recovers from leprosy. As is also the case in many of these miracles, the healed person blabs it to everyone (according to Mark) and the word of His miraculous powers was spreading rapidly, causing Jesus to have to retreat from the crowds who are reaching out to Him.
Here is some great commentary by David Guzik in Enduring Word for this passage in Luke:
According to Jewish law and customs, one had to keep 6 feet (2 meters) from a leper. If the wind blew toward a person from a leper, they had to keep 150 feet (45 meters) away. The only thing more defiling than contact with a leper was contact with a dead body.
For these reasons leprosy was considered a picture of sin and its effects. It is a contagious, debilitating disease that corrupts its victim and makes him essentially dead while alive. Therefore society and religious people scorned lepers. Rabbis especially despised them, and saw lepers as those under the special judgment of God, deserving no pity or mercy.
Nevertheless, the leper came to Jesus by himself and despite many discouragements.
He knew how terrible his problem was.
He knew most everyone thought his condition was hopeless.
He had no one who would or could take him to Jesus.
He had no previous example of Jesus healing a leper to give him hope.
He had no promise that Jesus would heal him.
He had no invitation from Jesus or the disciples.
He must have felt ashamed and alone in the crowd.
He [Jesus] put out His hand and touched him: Jesus did not have to touch the leper in order to heal him. He could have healed him with a word or even a thought. Yet He healed the leper with a touch to show compassion to this man thought to be untouchable, and to show that the touch of the Messiah makes men clean instead of receiving their impurity.
“On the one hand, He knew that the ceremonial restrictions were abolished in Himself: on the other, He desired to teach that sin cannot defile the divine holiness of the Saviour.” (Gustav Meyer)
This commentary is insightful in that it shows that the leper indeed had faith that he could be healed and took a big risk coming near the crowd that was always following Jesus. A Jewish leper had never been healed before (the only OT leper healed that was documented after the laws were recorded was the Syrian General Naaman in 2 Kings 5); being affected with leprosy was usually a hopeless condition. It also reminds us that Jesus is not defiled by an impurity, but His touch makes men clean, both physically and spiritually.
Starting with this miracle, I will summarize each one for what we can learn in the main text and then have the growing list of miracles added to the bottom of the devotional after the prayer.
Cleansing of the Leper: Jesus is willing to heal us, is compassionate towards those who suffer and can instantly cure a dreadful and feared disease. We must have faith when circumstances seem hopeless.
My next devotional examines the healing of a Centurion’s servant as documented in Matthew and Luke.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Thank you so much for your endless compassion and infinite power to heal and cleanse us. Let us be faithful and come to you for healing and redemption when all seems to be hopeless. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
The Miracle List:
Water to wine: Jesus can overcome time, He creates beauty and abundance, and He shares in our joy.
Healing of the official’s son: Jesus can overcome space (distance), He does not need to see the person He heals, He has infinite power, but He also wants us to believe without signs and wonders.
Casting out of the evil spirit in the synagogue: The authority of Jesus is recognized by the demons and He triumphs over evil and silences it.
Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law: Jesus does not need crowds to demonstrate His power and He has compassion about the needs of one person, even if those needs seem smaller and only worthy of a couple of verses of scripture.
Healing and casting out demons of many in Capernaum (at Peter’s house): Jesus has compassion on all who come to Him and has no conditions that He places on giving them His mercy. He can heal instantly with a light touch and again demonstrates authority over demons and silences them.
Miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee: Jesus demonstrates His powers over His creation, He once again brings abundance, and He teaches humble fishermen that their task of bringing souls to Him is the most important thing they can do. They must follow Him.
Cleansing of the Leper: Jesus is willing to heal us, is compassionate towards those who suffer and can instantly cure a dreadful and feared disease. We must have faith when circumstances seem hopeless.