Leprosy was one of the most feared diseases in Jesus’ day. It sentenced a person who was afflicted with it to an isolated and lonely existence. Jewish ceremonial laws forbid people from having physical contact with lepers. It required those with the disease to live “outside the camp,” isolated from their family and neighbors (Leviticus 14:2-3). If lepers were to venture out into the general public, they were to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!” so that people would know to keep their distance (Leviticus 13:45-46).
Jesus once encountered a man afflicted with leprosy—a dreaded, disfiguring disease. It’s possible that this man had a collapsed nose, skin blemishes covering his body, and curled up arms and hands. He may have been missing a few fingers or toes.
Apparently the leper sensed something so radically different about the Savior that he was willing to break the rules of the day. Rather than back away and warn Him of his uncleanness, this guy ran up to Jesus, fell at His feet, and humbly begged to be healed (Mark 1:40). Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him and cured him (Mark 1:41-42).
One might say that Jesus broke the rules too when He touched the leper. But He wasn’t trying to be a rule breaker. He came to fulfill the Law, but in a way that rewrote it (Matthew 5:17). He was helping people move from the old way of doing things (that was no longer the priority) to the new way of kingdom life found in Him.
Do you sometimes feel like a leper? Do you feel like you’re beyond the touch of compassion or forgiveness? If so, welcome to Jesus’ new world! In His kingdom, those who once couldn’t be touched can now be touched and healed by His power.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 2:1-25
More:
Jesus’ touch could transform lives, but He could also heal with His words. Read Mark 2:1-12 and consider His healing ways.
Next:
Is there something others have done to you or you have done to yourself that has made you feel leper-like? Don’t hide. Approach Jesus, talk with Him about it, and discover His healing touch.
praise the lord on June 18, 2015 at 6:25 am
Today we have self check out in stores, classes on line, and we can work at home. These are by choice not something we are forced to do. Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good, that man should be alone, I will make him a helper comparable to him. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 expounds on the benefits of there being two together. The church would not exist if the twelve decided to live in isolation out of fear of what would happen to them because of there relationship with Jesus. Fear, rejection, and unforgiveness have left me feeling isolated. I have to believe that we all have had periods in life where we felt isolated. Like this leper we can choose with the help of Jesus to get out of our isolation.
Gary Shultz on June 18, 2015 at 6:26 am
I am always amazed by these accounts as Christ’s compassion overtakes the moment. Jesus in what seems like holy abandon seeks for a faith choice then wipes away all of it’s affects on the soul and body. I am so glad the compassion and touch of Jesus is ever available. Thanks
Marlena Graves on June 18, 2015 at 11:51 pm
I always think of Jesus telling the pharisees, “I have come for those are sick not those who are well.” It is often those who think they are well in all ways who are the most sick. Lepers. There are areas of our lives where we are still lepers in need of Jesus even as we go from glory to glory. I’m thankful that he always cares and seeks to make us well in areas where we still need wholeness – even as we follow him.