Thoughts on Jesus' healing of the leper

Hey all, I have been blessed in studying Matthew 8:1-4 as of late. Just thought I'd blog some of what I've found in this wonderful account of Jesus' merciful and miraculous power.

In putting this story right after the famous sermon on the mount, we see that Jesus not only spoke with authority, but He also performed acts that could only be accomplished by the power of God and thus gives us much confidence that we can trust and know His words are also from God. It is crucial to understand how terrible a disease leprosy was considered to be in that day and in that culture. One scholar says "In the ancient world leprosy was the most terrible of diseases..., a kind of terrible progressive death." (Barclay) Josephus, the famous ancient Jewish historian says lepers were treated "as if they were, in effect, dead men." In the law God gave through Moses, we see that a Jewish person would become "ceremonially unclean" if they touched a leper. (Lev 15:7) Also, the leper was required to "wear torn clothes, let the hair of his head hang loose, cover his upper lip and cry out "unclean, unclean." " (Lev 13:45-46) The leper had to live alone, outside the camp of his fellow people. We see that a terribly bleak picture is before us of what the life of this leper who approached Jesus was like. Certain religious leaders of this time would do all things to avoid being near lepers, it even seems to be the case that lepers at times might have had small stones cast at them so that they would stay away from people calling themselves religious so that they would not become unclean. Along with this, the Jewish culture at this time believed that a person with leprosy was struck with that disease by God because of God's particular displeasure with them. This added much to their position as an outcast. People in the community felt no desire to be merciful to the leper, for God was against the leper in their thinking, and in their minds was why the leper was judged with the disease.

Having become accustomed to such treatment, it is an amazing thing this leper had the confidence to approach Jesus that he did. Crowds were following Jesus at this time, and they probably parted and gasped in disgust as this leper came up to the Lord. If Jesus had been like some other religious leaders of his time, He would probably have rebuked the leper, told him to get away and never again come so close to crowds of people that could become unclean by him. Yet something the leper had heard or seen in Jesus must have given him hope that Jesus was different. He did not worry that the crowds would not want him present, he was only fixed on getting to Jesus and falling at His feet. Oh that we would follow the leper's example, that no matter how much it will cause us to be scorned by men, we will make our way to bow at the feet of Jesus, to obtain mercy from Him.

Jesus did not rebuke the leper, or cast stones at him, he reacted in a different way. He reacted with compassion. He did the unthinkable. No one touched lepers. Touching a leper made one unclean. How could Jesus fathom touching someone with leprosy, that didn't have the appearance of good religion. Jesus was not one to worry about appearance in that manner. He was moved with His compassion to do something for this poor leper. The touch of Jesus is like no other. The touch did not make Jesus unclean, rather it made the leper clean!

In the leper's going to Jesus, his plea tells us that he had no doubt of what Christ was able to do, only uncertainty of what Christ was willing to do. The leper was certain Jesus could heal him and make him clean right there. He came to the Lord saying, "If you will, you can make me clean."

It is rare that people in our society ever have such leprosy as this man had, but do you ever feel as though you are a leper on the inside. That your entire heart and soul are unclean, and you would be ashamed if anyone ever saw how you really are. Do you feel that no one would touch your soul if they knew how gross it is? It would be a great thing to be like this leper and go to Jesus, for He can make every part of you clean with a touch or a word. Jesus is still the same Jesus as He was in that day (Heb 13:8). Go before Him in your heart and let Him touch the area of your soul that you think is untouchable, He can make it clean. We have an advantage, we can see Jesus' response to those such as this leper. Jesus never turned them away, He always showed compassion to those who came to Him in such a humble way. The leper may not have known this, yet He still was courageous to go to Jesus because He was drawn to something about the Lord. How much more should we run to Jesus and throw ourselves at His feet!

Maybe you have come to the place where you know the Lord Jesus has touched and made you clean. Well, rejoice! And go as Jesus did and show compassion to the untouchable people that are around you. Maybe someone with aids, or with handicap, or one who is elderely. This world desperately needs to know there is a great King in heaven who is willing to touch them with compassion.

In closing I am going to quote Charles Spurgeon, who reflects on Jesus' response to the leper. Jesus says "I will, be clean." Spurgeon says: " The "I will" of an emperor may have great power over his dominions; but the "I will" of Christ drives death and hell before Him, conquers disease, removes despair, and floods the world with mercy."

How glorious is Jesus! God bless you all.