CLEANSING THAT LEADS TO LIFE

Matt.8:2,3 – And a man with leprosy came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Healing and cleansing from leprosy was one of the miracles we see Jesus addressing and healing multiple times in His ministry. Leprosy was associated with sin all throughout the Old Testament and a diagnosis of leprosy would put you outside the community living in isolation the rest of your life. It was considered more or less a death sentence that could linger for years. The healing from leprosy pictured the redemptive work of Jesus that He accomplished on the cross. His death provided a double cure seen clearly in the healing of this foul disease. It was a physical healing that restored a person’s health and entrance back into society. It also pictured the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, the impurity of sin was totally washed away. Here is a quote from Barclay that describes the stigma on leprosy throughout history.

“The physical condition of the leper was terrible; but there was something which made it worse. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that lepers were treated ‘as if they were, in effect, dead men’. Immediately leprosy was diagnosed, the leper was absolutely and completely banished from human society. ‘He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp’. Lepers had to go with torn clothes and disheveled hair, with a covering upon the upper lip, and, as they went, they had to cry: ‘Unclean, unclean’. In the middle ages, if anyone contracted leprosy, the priest donned his stole and took his crucifix, and brought the leper into the church. He then read the burial service over the person, who for all human purposes was dead.”

This healing of the leper declares to us the Father’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to bring a double cure into all of our lives. He heals us from our physical maladies and restores us to a normal life. Even better, He washes us clean from our sin that we can have fellowship with Him. Look to Jesus today, like He said to the leper when asked about His will to heal He quickly responded, “I am willing; be cleansed”. Today His double cure is also available to Him, just ask and watch what He does.