The story of the healing of the man with leprosy is more than just a miraculous healing story. It opens for us a window onto God’s heart, and gives us a beautiful glimpse of God’s attitude towards us, as we struggle with the brokenness and alienation of our lives.
The reality is that we are all broken people. There are many ways in which our lives get messed up - through our own selfish & sinful choices; through the selfishness & sinfulness of others; through the fallen systems & structures of society in which we find ourselves; through the circumstances of life over which we have little control. Whatever the reasons, the way of transformation requires of us that we face our brokenness and acknowledge our desperate need of a Saviour. This is what we explored last week.
But in facing up to the reality of our broken, messed up lives, it is easy to be overcome with feelings of worthlessness, wretchedness and shame. It is easy to believe that God is angry with us, ashamed of us, and would rather have nothing to do with us.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The condition of leprosy in first century Palestine had two stark consequences. Firstly, it completely alienated the sufferer from all forms of human contact. Secondly, it alienated the sufferer from God, not just because lepers were barred from entering the Temple or the Synagogue, but because it was assumed that leprosy was God’s punishment and a sign of God’s displeasure for something the leper had done wrong.
But notice what happens in the story as this leprous man encounters Jesus:
- Jesus reached out and touched the man. The authority of his spoken word would have been enough to heal him, but Jesus chose to touch that which was considered untouchable, declaring that no-one is an untouchable to God.
- Jesus expressed his willingness to meet this man’s need. “I am willing” he said. “Be clean!” In doing so he declared that God does not look upon our brokenness with loathing and contempt, but with compassion and an eager willingness to make us whole.
- Jesus ordered the man to follow the ritual requirements laid down in the law, as a testimony to those in the religious establishment of what had happened, and as a declaration that God takes no delight in the alienation of people and plays no part in the punishment game.
Today you are invited to pray your own brief prayer, but completing the sentence below:
“Lord, if you are willing, you can....”
FOCUS READING:
Luke 5:12-16 - NIV
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "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!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
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