Jesus the Leper

Luke 5:12-16

“12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” 13 Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no one. “Go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.” 15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.”

Jesus touched the leper and healed him. He could have healed the leper from a distance as he did in other instances, but he chose to touch the leper.

In Jesus’ time, leprosy was a terrible disease for which there was no cure and certain death. It also meant isolation from family, friends and from society in general.  No one dared go near a leper, let alone touch one.

By touching the leper, Jesus was making himself unclean,in effect becoming a leper himself, according to Jewish law, until He was ritually cleaned.  

Through the touch of Christ, the leper was made whole physically, socially, and spiritually.  

May we all experience the touch of Christ’s hand.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)