It was an unusual moment to see a Jewish person talking with, and even more so touching, a leper. This just didn’t happen. The leper was considered unclean, and there was great possibility of being infected with the same disease. However, this was not an unusual moment for Jesus. He did the unexpected, what was not customary for others; He did what demonstrated His difference from others. In this short encounter Jesus showed He was both God and man; He demonstrated both His authority and compassion. And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean (Mark 1.40-42).
In this, there are four lessons as we consider leprosy being an example of our own sinfulness and the work of Christ in our salvation. One, the leper came to Jesus. This man recognized his need and believed Jesus could help him. Before salvation, we must first recognize we are infested with the leprosy of sin, and there is nothing we can do to free ourselves from this bondage. Two, he implored Jesus; he essentially begged Jesus to help him. In seeing ourselves as sinful, we must come to Jesus, knowing He alone is able to cleanse us of sin. Three, he knelt before Jesus. He humbled himself, recognizing he was unworthy of Jesus’ help and was fully at His mercy. In coming to Christ, we must recognize we are unworthy of the Lord’s love, grace, and mercy. There is nothing in ourselves to merit salvation; there is nothing in us that is worthy of becoming a child of the eternal God. Four, he spoke, If you will, you can make me clean. Believing Jesus, he not only trusted the Lord’s ability but also trusted His will. Believing Jesus, every repentant sinner who calls upon the Lord will be forgiven; all who believe Jesus alone is able to remove the leprosy of sin, will be cleansed of all sin, redeemed, and made a child of God.
Cleansed by the Savior – we have much to be thankful for today –
Terry
My Morning Desk 