The Leper

TEXT:

‘Behold a leper came and worshipped Him saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean”’ – Matthew 8:2

THOUGHT:

Jesus had just finished his wonderful teaching, the Sermon on the Mount – hard-hitting, thought-provoking and lifestyle challenging. There is no mention of healing, yet when Jesus comes down from the mountain a leper is amongst the great multitudes following Him wanting Jesus to heal him.

Leprosy was an illness to be dreaded. Great advances have been made throughout the world to reduce, even eradicate its awful effect. There are degrees of leprosy. Two long chapters in the Book of Leviticus concern the diagnosis, treatment and recovery from leprosy. For a person to go from being included in society to excluded and then included again must have been a wonderful experience. However this leper was no small case or even in the first signs of this awful disease. The Gospel of Luke states he was full of leprosy – 5:12.

So often God uses the worst scenario to show us that, “With Him all things are possible!” From the Gospel accounts of this encounter and wonderful miracle, there are four things we must be willing to do.

• Be willing to go where you would not normally go

Lepers avoided the crowds as they would likely to be attacked if they mixed with society such was people’s fear of contracting the disease. This leper took his life in his hands and came to where Jesus was surrounded by the multitudes. When we are willing to do that, anything can happen. For us it could mean going to talk to that person we know is a Christian, or going to that church we have been avoiding because they preach about Jesus. Are you willing to risk your reputation or embarrassment is order to get what you need?

• Be willing to bow the Knee – ‘Kneeling down, he fell on his face and worshipped Him’

It means humbling yourself, coming into contact with the dirt and the dust. How pride loves to try and justify us in the presence of God. Once you see Jesus as He really is, you will have no trouble bowing the knee and believing that He is the answer to your need. ‘Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you’ – 1 Peter 5:6-7.

• Be willing to ask – ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean’

For years society had put leprosy and sin together, so this leper was the worst of them all. How did God view him? This is why he said, “Lord, if You are willing”. Of course we do not deserve it, none of us do, but Jesus is thrilled when faith fills our heart to ask. This is why Jesus came into the world, to destroy the works of the evil one. ‘God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil’ – Acts 10:38.  To come to Jesus, humble yourself and worship Him and then not ask for anything is a crying shame. Be bold and ask! Put yourself down and He will lift you up. If leprosy can be healed, your need can be met too!

• Be willing to obey Jesus – ‘Tell no one’

Jesus had a reason for saying that to him, for He said the same to Jairus – Mark 5:43. To another He said, ‘Go and tell everyone’ – Mark 5:19. Here was something the healed leper was able to do, something that would please the One who healed him. Yet the Bible records he did the very opposite, telling everyone everywhere what Jesus had done, and this restricted His ministry. Jesus did not take back his healing because he was disobedient, but how much better it would have been for him to have done that one simple thing. Often we try to do the complicated but neglect the simple aspects of Christianity. When you receive your miracle of healing, listen carefully to what Jesus tells you to do. Then do it with all your ability as an act of gratitude.

Four simple things to – come, bow, ask, obey. Do these and you will discover that the God you thought was against you is for you!