Why would I ask you to be a leper? No one wants to be a leper. They had a terrible incurable disease in biblical times. Now it is curable if caught in time, but this was not the case when Jesus walked the earth; however, it is still a very serious skin disease. Leprosy today is called Hansen’s disease. It is a chronic infection that affects the skin, nerves, eyes, and nasal passages. It is not a disease you can easily hide. If not treated, it will continue to grow, and it is very painful. If you lived in biblical times, you were sent away from your family, and no one wanted to be around you for fear of becoming a leper. In Mark 1:40-45, we find an account of a leper that gives us character traits we all need.
The first quality that he shows us is that he had heard about Jesus, and he sought him out. This was completely against the Jewish laws for him to come into public. If he were to find himself among people, he would have to yell out “unclean” so everyone would know he was a leper and they too could be contaminated. This man was desperate for healing, and he found it in Jesus. He acknowledges he knows about the power Jesus has, “ If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” He begs Jesus, but note his posture; he is kneeling, which shows his reverence for Jesus. He tells Jesus that he knows he can make him well. His faith in Jesus was set. Jesus is moved with compassion for this man, and he touches him. I’m sure those who were not fully convinced Jesus was the Messiah were now looking to see what would happen. Not only was the man not supposed to approach anyone, but Jesus broke the Jewish law by touching the leper.
As soon as Jesus spoke the words, “I will; be thou clean,” the man was healed. Jesus told the man to tell no one because Jesus knew the stir it would create, and it would cause Him to have to change cities. The Jewish leaders would be furious with what Jesus had done. They were unconcerned about the healing, but they knew this would cause others to follow Him. They were so steeped in their ways, laws, and pride that it caused them to hate Jesus even more. They could not see the healer for their own pride. Jesus tells him to tell no one until he goes to the priest, and offer an offering according to the Mosaic law.
However, the leper shows us another quality we need to have. He could not help but tell everyone, everywhere, what had happened to Him. He was exuberant. He was healed and wanted everyone to know it was because of Jesus. He did not have a silent faith. He had a bold faith; even his approach showed us this character trait.
Mark 1:40-45 “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”
So, how can we apply this to our lives? Scripture that is not applied is nothing more than a good read. God gave us the scriptures to learn about Him and His ways. He gave us a love letter that never grows old and always has a lesson for our lives. From this, we are taught to run to Jesus and humbly beg him for help. We may have sins we need to confess, and if we first ask Him to show us something that needs to change, He usually will. We need to have faith in Him that is paramount to anything else we are trusting in. Doctors are great and God has given them the ability to help us, but even in this, we need to trust God to use them. While Jesus told him not to tell anyone, his joy for what God had done could not be kept silent. If you are a Christian, you need to check your heart if you are not anxious to proclaim Him wherever you go. You do not need a physical healing to tell people what God has done for you. The greatest healing in all the world is to cleanse a man from his sins. In one second of confession, repentance, and faith, our eternal destiny changed. He told so many, and the word spread so fast that Jesus had to go to another city. His popularity was growing, and the Jews did not like this. However, I can not blame the man. Anyone in his shoes would have felt the same way.
Now, are you being like the leper? Are you telling everyone you know about Jesus? Do you have a strong desire every morning to meet with Him? Do you get excited about what you know He can do? Is your faith increasing? If the answer to any of these is no, it is time for you to get honest with yourself and God. You do not see the big picture of eternity in your everyday life, therefore people around you are continuing to not know what is available to them through Jesus. Kneel at His feet and become a leper.
