Knowing the Word in Luke 5:12-16

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Comments

Leprosy was the name given to a number of curable and incurable skin diseases. At its worse, it was disfiguring and fatal. This leprous man likely had a horrible case described as “full of.” Those with it were quarantined by the law and were forbidden to enter cities and/or approach other people, and to prevent accidental contact were required to cry out to others, “Unclean.” They could not earn a living and were dependent on the charity of others. The leper in this story broke every single rule and social custom. Onlookers must have been horrified. This man knew Jesus had the power to heal him; he was just not sure that he wanted to. Jesus touched him. Perhaps Jesus’ touch spoke more loudly than his words. Jesus does not fear touching those unclean.

Jesus suggested the man go to the priest, who stood in as health inspector, and make the appropriate sacrifice, so that the man could take his place back in society. Jesus gave this instruction to protect this man, show that he, Jesus, upheld the law, and to give a testimony to the power of God in him. As Jesus had rejected the devil’s temptation to become a popular miracle-worker, he left the cities and headed for the wilderness, away from the crowds, where he could pray and be quiet.

Application

When we look at Jesus, we see that Christians are not to be popular but humble people obedient to God. How would you assess your Christian walk?

Prayer

Father God, I want to be obedient to your Son and imitate his humility. Help me to move away from desiring to be the center of attention in my world, and to making him the center of all that I do and think. I want to walk as a child of the light and follow Jesus all the days of my life.