Luke 5:12-16
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
12 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.” 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 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.” 15 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. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Reflection:
Our story today is another instance of Jesus showing forth the kingdom in the healing of disease. And today the horrible disease is leprosy. Leprosy was not only physically painful to those who contracted it, but it also brought about quite a bit of social humiliation as well. Jesus met this man in one of the towns, which we know is Capernaum, from Matthew and Mark's version of the story. What we see here today shows us two very important lessons. One is how to approach Jesus with a need. And secondly, how Jesus responds to a need.
First, we see the man's approach to Jesus. When he sees Jesus, he pays deference to him and puts his face to the ground. He recognized who Jesus was. Then, he humbly asked Jesus to heal him. In his humble request he affirms that if Jesus was willing, he could make him clean. So he shows not only humility, but his complete faith at the same time. Finally, through his prayer of faith he is made clean. We don't know exactly what he did afterwards, but in Mark's gospel it says he freely shared the Good News. Though Jesus was trying to keep his identity secret at least for now, the man cannot help be freely share what Jesus has done for him.
Second, we see Jesus' response. It says Jesus reached out and touched his hand. The Son of Man stooped to touch the diseased man's hand. Again it would have been unthinkable for a rabbi to come in contact with the one who had to yell "unclean", when they were in the temple. But Jesus saw this man's faith and he touched him. Jesus said, "he was willing". Jesus, always the man of compassion, saw this man's need and in love was willing to meet it. So we see not only his mercy and kindness, but then his power. He merely says, "be clean" and the man is instantly healed. Jesus in humility tells the man not to tell anyone but to go tell the priest as was required by the Jewish law. Again this shows his obedience to the Law he came to fulfill. Finally, as Jesus often did, he withdrew to a quiet place to pray. We see the rhythm between ministry and abiding in the Father. Jesus knows His need to stay in communion with His Father, if He is going to continue to do the works of the Father. Apart from Him, He can do nothing.
What can we learn from this story, and how might it apply to us today? Though most of us will never suffer from the terrible disease of leprosy, we all share another terrible disease. It is the "sin disease". Like leprosy it covers us from head to toe. The question for us today is will we go to Jesus and say in humility, "if you are willing you can make me clean". This is what we call confession, when we admit that we are in need of spiritual healing to Jesus. And the Good News today is if we seek Jesus and fall at our knees and confess our need for His healing, He will likewise utter, "I am willing!" How do we know this for sure? When Jesus went to the cross he proved to us He was willing. When Jesus reached out his nail pierced hand to touch us, he showed He was willing. Though our sins be as scarlet, He has made us white as snow.
And like the leper, when we have realized such a healing from Jesus, we too can do nothing but freely share the Good news with those around us. Amen.
12 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.” 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 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.” 15 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. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Reflection:
Our story today is another instance of Jesus showing forth the kingdom in the healing of disease. And today the horrible disease is leprosy. Leprosy was not only physically painful to those who contracted it, but it also brought about quite a bit of social humiliation as well. Jesus met this man in one of the towns, which we know is Capernaum, from Matthew and Mark's version of the story. What we see here today shows us two very important lessons. One is how to approach Jesus with a need. And secondly, how Jesus responds to a need.
First, we see the man's approach to Jesus. When he sees Jesus, he pays deference to him and puts his face to the ground. He recognized who Jesus was. Then, he humbly asked Jesus to heal him. In his humble request he affirms that if Jesus was willing, he could make him clean. So he shows not only humility, but his complete faith at the same time. Finally, through his prayer of faith he is made clean. We don't know exactly what he did afterwards, but in Mark's gospel it says he freely shared the Good News. Though Jesus was trying to keep his identity secret at least for now, the man cannot help be freely share what Jesus has done for him.
Second, we see Jesus' response. It says Jesus reached out and touched his hand. The Son of Man stooped to touch the diseased man's hand. Again it would have been unthinkable for a rabbi to come in contact with the one who had to yell "unclean", when they were in the temple. But Jesus saw this man's faith and he touched him. Jesus said, "he was willing". Jesus, always the man of compassion, saw this man's need and in love was willing to meet it. So we see not only his mercy and kindness, but then his power. He merely says, "be clean" and the man is instantly healed. Jesus in humility tells the man not to tell anyone but to go tell the priest as was required by the Jewish law. Again this shows his obedience to the Law he came to fulfill. Finally, as Jesus often did, he withdrew to a quiet place to pray. We see the rhythm between ministry and abiding in the Father. Jesus knows His need to stay in communion with His Father, if He is going to continue to do the works of the Father. Apart from Him, He can do nothing.
What can we learn from this story, and how might it apply to us today? Though most of us will never suffer from the terrible disease of leprosy, we all share another terrible disease. It is the "sin disease". Like leprosy it covers us from head to toe. The question for us today is will we go to Jesus and say in humility, "if you are willing you can make me clean". This is what we call confession, when we admit that we are in need of spiritual healing to Jesus. And the Good News today is if we seek Jesus and fall at our knees and confess our need for His healing, He will likewise utter, "I am willing!" How do we know this for sure? When Jesus went to the cross he proved to us He was willing. When Jesus reached out his nail pierced hand to touch us, he showed He was willing. Though our sins be as scarlet, He has made us white as snow.
And like the leper, when we have realized such a healing from Jesus, we too can do nothing but freely share the Good news with those around us. Amen.
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