Thoughts for the Day

A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying 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 word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

If we look at this little miracle of the healing of the man with leprosy there are a number of things that come to mind. Firstly, even in the first days of his ministry Jesus is taking an enormous risk since he was breaking an absolute fundamental law (see Leviticus 13.1-17). Leviticus 13.45 moreover dictates that 'A diseased person must wear torn clothes, let his hair hang loose, cover his mouth, and cry out, "Unclean, unclean!" As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.' More horrible was the fact that it was believed the sufferer had also been abandoned by God because of their sin, and as such was ritually unclean as well. Secondly, anyone coming into contact with a leper might not just become physically infectious, they too became ceremonially unclean, which meant they could no longer attend worship.

The one thing that shines so brightly in this little incident though, is the man's faith in Jesus. The Kingdom of God has come near even to a leper cut off from society. Somehow the news of this healer has come to the man and he has total faith that Jesus is able to cure his sickness and reconcile him to God. He simply says, "If you choose, you can make me clean," and Jesus responds "I choose. Be made clean!"

But even more amazing Jesus puts out his hand. We are told that he 'touched him'. So according to the Law of Moses Jesus was immediately ceremonially unclean. In this one action, and in the healing that follows, Jesus demonstrates that he is the supreme law maker, and that the role of faith is more important in the Kingdom of God than ritual observance. In that instant the leper is healed and restored to a right relationship with God and with those around him. In this new Kingdom it is God who chooses to heal, and ours to have faith that He will always make the right decision.

Lord Jesus Christ,
let us never forget
that You are Lord of all,
including the Law.
We cannot curtail You
to a picture of a man,
for You are the Creator
and can heal whom You will.
May we pray for healing,
but learn to accept Your decisions.
Amen.