40 And a leper came to Jesus, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
The lepers of Jesus' day were forced to remove themselves from community, isolated from family and friends. Required to wear torn clothing, the leper would warn anyone approaching by crying out, "Unclean! Unclean!" Worse, those afflicted were prohibited from entering the Temple and experiencing the shekinah glory of God and worshiping Him through their sacrifices and offerings.
More than any other disease, Scripture presents leprosy as an incredible picture of the effects of the fall. The curse of Genesis 3 was death. Death spread to all, as Romans 5:12 tells us, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned."
Because of sin, we die. We are trapped in bodies that age, break down, and eventually kill us. Worse, the just punishment for our sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Since all of our sin is ultimately against God, and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.
But God, being rich in mercy--when we were dead men walking, loved us and sent Jesus to rescue us from the curse of sin and death (See Eph. 2:4-5)!!
God took the initiative! He sent Jesus to rescue sick and dying sinners. The cleansing and healing of the leper presents an incredible picture of complete healing and redemption from sin and death provided by Jesus!
- Jesus forgives and reconciles to God.
- God restores people to unity in Christ; formerly disgraced, now they are given a place of honor.
- Jesus provides eternal soul healing and ultimately, bodily healing—defeating death and the devil.
What about you? Will you kneel before Jesus?
Have you reached the level of desperation where you have fallen on your face before the soul-healer, and urgently and humbly asked Him to cleanse you? He will!
Christian, do you revisit the gospel of grace daily? Doing so cultivates humility and thanksgiving for all that we have in Jesus!
Along with Scripture, I read a devotion book called New Morning Mercies every single morning. Focused less on behavior modification and more on helping me encounter Jesus, this devotional equips me with the good news that I need to trust in God’s goodness, rely on his grace, and live for his glory—day in and day out. Get you a copy! You won't regret it!
