EmmDev 2016-10-05 [Month of Mission 2016] A man with Leprosy
A man with Leprosy
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said. 41 Moved with pity, "Jesus touched him "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared-the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way and told him sternly, 44 "Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don't talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing."
45 But as the man went on his way, he spread the news, telling everyone what had happened to him. As a result, such crowds soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn't enter a town anywhere publicly. He had to stay out in the secluded places, and people from everywhere came to him there. (Mark1:40-45) |
In keeping with the law in Leviticus 13 and 14, Jewish leaders declared people with leprosy unclean. This meant that lepers were unfit to participate in any religious or social activity because the law said that contact with any unclean person made a person unclean, too, some people even threw rocks at lepers to keep them at a safe distance. Even the mention of the name of this disabling disease terrified people. But Jesus touched this man who had leprosy.
Lets us look at this most revealing picture of Jesus.
- He did not drive away a man who had broken the law. The leper had no right to have spoken to him at all, but Jesus met the desperation of human need with an understanding compassion.
- Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. He touched the man who was unclean. To Jesus he was not unclean; he was simply a human soul in desperate need.
- Having cleansed him, Jesus sent him to fulfil the prescribed ritual. He fulfilled the human law and human righteousness. He did not recklessly defy the conventions, but, when need be, submitted to them.
The real value of a person is inside not outside. Although a person's body may be diseased or deformed, the person inside is no less valuable to God. No person is too disgusting for God's touch. In a sense, we are all people with leprosy because we have all been deformed by the ugliness of sin. By sending his Son, Jesus, God has touched us, giving us the opportunity to be healed. When you feel repulsed by someone, stop and remember how God feels about that person - and about you.
Although leprosy was incurable, many different types of skin diseases were classified together as "leprosy." According to the Old Testament laws about leprosy (Leviticus 13 - 14), when a leper was cured he or she had to go to a priest to be examined. Then the leper was to give a thank offering at the Temple. Jesus adhered to these laws by sending the man to the priest, demonstrating Jesus' complete regard for God's law. Sending a healed leper to a priest was a way to verify Jesus' great miracle to the community.
Here we learn about compassion, power and wisdom of Jesus in Mission. Be blessed with Jesus' special message on his mission to a leper.
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Abraham is married to Rhoda, the father of three children, one girl Jemimah – 16years, two boys Gomezgani – 7years and Urunji – 3years. He served in Copperbelt Presbytery for 13years. Currently he's serving at John Knox congregation.
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