Leper is a person who has the deadly disease “Leprosy”. In the current world we may not see many leper’s in our society as its very low, but if you want to, there is a chance to see at the entrance of church / mosque or temple.
My Post today is from Matt 8: 1-4, where Jesus encounters a leper and his actions and what we can learn from this spiritually. Before we get to understand the spiritual side of learning, Some understanding of Leprosy.
In the ancient world, leprosy was a terrible, destructive disease – and still is in some parts of the world. Leprosy might begin with the loss of all sensation in some part of the body, the nerve trunks are affected, the muscles waste away, the tendons contract until the hands are like claws. There follows ulceration of the hands and feet. Then comes the progressive loss of fingers and toes, until in the end a whole hand or a whole foot may drop off. The duration of that kind of leprosy is anything from twenty to thirty years. It is a kind of terrible progressive death in which a man dies by inches.
According to Jewish law and customs, one had to keep 6 feet (2 meters) from a leper. If the wind was blowing 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 all these reasons, the condition of leprosy is a model of sin and its effects. It is a contagious, debilitating disease that corrupts its victim and makes him essentially dead while alive; and it followed that almost universally, society and religious people scorned lepers. Rabbi’s (Jewish Leaders) especially despised lepers and saw them as people under the special judgment of God, deserving no pity or mercy.
We read how the Leper encounters with Jesus
'When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ' Matthew 8:1-4
Lepers Action’s
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
The ancient leper had no hope of improvement, so this leper came to Jesus with a great sense of need and desperation, despite all the discouragements he had in the society
He knew how terrible his problem was
He knew that other people gave up on him as having a hopeless condition.
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.
Despite his desperate condition, this man not only begged Jesus – he also worshipped Him ““A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said”
He worshipped Jesus by coming to Him, honouring Him as the One who could meet His otherwise impossible need.
He worshipped Jesus with his posture, probably bowing or kneeling before Jesus, we read “knelt before him and said”
He worshipped Jesus with the word “Lord,” honouring Him as master and God.
He worshipped Jesus with his humility, by not demanding but leaving the request up to the will of Jesus.
He worshipped Jesus with his respect of the power of Jesus, saying that all that was necessary was the will of Jesus, and he would be healed.
He worshipped Jesus with his confidence that Jesus could make him more than healthy; Jesus could make him clean.
Lord, if You are willing: The leper had no doubt whatsoever about the ability of Jesus to heal. His only question was if Jesus was willing to heal.
Jesus Action’s
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man” This was a bold and compassionate touch from Jesus.
The idea is that the leper kept his distance from Jesus, but He put out His hand and touched him. It was against the ceremonial law to touch a leper (as per custom he was supposed to be away from him 6 Ft), which made the touch more meaningful to the afflicted man. Of course, as soon as Jesus touched him, he was no longer a leper!
I am willing: Jesus’ assurance that I am willing simply answered the man’s question and gives us a starting point for the times we wonder if Jesus is willing to heal. We should assume Jesus is willing to heal unless he shows us differently.
“Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy” The former leper’s life was changed forever. He was not only healed, but as he requested, he was cleansed “Be clean”.
Jesus’ command to him to do two things
1. Not to tell Anyone - “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Mark tells us that the leper did not obey Jesus and instead he went out and began to talk freely
'Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ' Mark 1:44-45
2. Show yourself to the priest - Jesus commanded the man to give a testimony to the priests. The Mosaic Law prescribed specific sacrifices to be conducted upon the healing of a leper, and when the man reported it to the priests
'The Lord said to Moses, “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, Leviticus 14:1-3
What can we learn from this incident ourselves to mature and grow spiritually?
Humble to him Daily - We may not be a leper, but let’s have the attitude of Leper to Humble to Jesus every day to seek and win his mercy.
Worship him Daily - Like the leper we worship him with a sense that no one is there, the only hope you have is Jesus, he is the one who can take care of you or the sins you commit
Inside cleansing – We may not have the physical leper condition, but inside each one’s heart we may be like the leper filled with disgust and unclean things which no one can touch and clean, Only Jesus can cleanse each one.
Seek for his Will - Ask him to touch you according to his will, get his mercy and grace to fill you in each of your action.
If we do these, he is a merciful God, he will lend his hand and a healing touch to heal and clean thru and walk you daily.
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