Lovers of God

Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy

Mt 8:1-4 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Mk 1:40-45 40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He said 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." 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

Lk 5:12-14 12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

Leprosy is a disease that damages your skin and nervous system, causing your skin loses its sense of touch. It is contagious, and it progresses slowly. As a result, someone can poke you with a nail and you won’t feel it. In the end, you lose your fingers and toes, and your face is disfigured.

Leprosy symbolizes a believer who is slowly losing his sensitivity to sin. Perhaps there was a point when he kept his conscience clear, and took pains to repent of every sin, and make restitution, but he has now stopped doing that. Such a person eventually loses his salvation and ends up doomed.

The book of Hebrews warns us of such a condition.

Heb 3:12-19 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." 16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

Heb 10:26-27 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Sin is deceitful. When you sin and don’t see any immediate consequence you tend to think that it is okay to continue to do it. As a result, you harden your heart i.e. you decide to continue in doing evil, not believing that God will judge you for your sin because you have stopped repenting and thus fallen away from your salvation. That is why we need to encourage each other, day after day, to daily desire to stop sinning in every way. Otherwise, just like how God didn’t allow the unbelieving Jews who provoked Him to enter the Promised Land, in the same way, He will also not allow you to enter into heaven because of your lack of repentance.

Note the following things in the passage:

• The leper approached humbly.
• Jesus was willing to heal him.
• Jesus was moved with compassion.
• Jesus touched the leper.
• The healing was immediate.
• Jesus didn’t want the world to know that He could heal.
• Jesus thought it was important that the priests know, and that the man keep the Law and make the offering it required.
• The man couldn’t not keep quiet, and soon everyone came to Jesus for healing.

If we find that we are spiritually leprous, then we need to approach God humbly, like the leper in Mt 8:1-4 did. God is ever willing to help us desire to stop sinning and to help us stop sinning. He is compassionate towards us because He understands our weakness.

Heb 4:14-16 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let God touch your spirit and heal it. Decide to repent. To repent means to desire to stop sinning in every way. That decision doesn’t have to be a long-drawn thing; it can be immediate. Tap on the power of the Holy Spirit to fight against sin. If you fall, ask God to forgive you, and continue to fight. You may overcome some sin quickly, whereas some other sins may take years, or you may have to fight them until you die. In any case, never give up fighting against sin. As you fight, you will recognize the value of receiving a new body – one that cannot be tempted – at the resurrection, and you will eagerly hope for that day.

In the past, Jesus wanted healings to be kept secret. But today, if God has caused you to be born again, or to stop backsliding, know that there is rejoicing in heaven, and therefore you should tell the world about what God has done for you.