It all started several years earlier, when he had noticed unmistakable changes in his skin, such as the discoloration, and the thickening of the skin, and the loss of sensation in his fingers and toes. Then the rabbi had come and declared that he had leprosy, and his life, and the life of his family turned upside down. The whole community immediately banished him to way outside the village limits, out into the wilderness to live for probably the rest of his life. It’s not that his family and friends really wanted to, but they had to, as leprosy was contagious and a death sentence. He was all alone, and had been for several years. He had lost track of how long. He could only see his family from a great distance, with food and an occasional change of clothes dropped off some distance away. And lately it seemed that they were slowly forgetting about him. No one to talk to, no one to hug him and say they cared. That was the way it would be for however long his miserable life would last. Bitter tears fell down his deformed face. Until one day when a sliver of hope came!
This is where our Scripture from the Gospel of Mark brings us today. Leprosy, or today sometimes called Hansen’s disease, is a horrible disease. Old Testament law required that the lepers live away from society until they were cured, and without modern medication, that was extremely rare. The leper was even required to call out “Unclean!” if someone were to come anywhere near (Leviticus 13:45-46). Lepers could go years without any human contact at all.
The tragic man in our Scripture account today had been in this condition, away from family and loved ones for who knows how long, until one day he heard that Jesus was nearby. He must have heard some people talking a distance away from his haphazard tent that Jesus was passing by. From what he had heard from people’s conversations in the distance, Jesus was a great preacher and healer. He believed what he had overheard, that Jesus cured the blind, the sick, the crippled. He believed that Jesus could heal him, but would He? Nobody had come anywhere near him in years. What about this Man of God?
This was his only chance, and as Jesus was passing by, the leper must have called out to Him. Timidly he took some steps closer. Jesus did not back away, even when he called out “Unclean!” So the leper came closer and closer, till he kneeled down before him. With tears probably coursing down his face, he begged Jesus, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” (vs. 40).
What did Jesus do? Did He flinch back in revulsion from the man’s horribly disfigured body, in fear because of the contagion? No! He was moved with compassion, and He touched the poor man (vs. 41-42). He was willing, and His touch immediately healed the man. Jesus’ touch was the first touch from another he probably had in many years. His touch assured the man that he was not alone, but accepted.
God is not some uninvolved deity, out in some place in outer space, who doesn’t care what happens to man here on earth, as some denominations, religions, or philosophies claim. If that were the case, God would not have cared what happened to some disfigured leper. However, Jesus specifically said that He was willing, and brought the man healing. He shows all of us love and compassion, especially when we are at our lowest. The real value of a person is from the inside of them, not from the 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 to touch.
In Scripture leprosy was symbolic of sin. In that picture, we are all people with leprosy, because we have all been deformed by the ugliness of sin. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to touch us and give us the opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness, and be healed.
After the man was healed of his leprosy, Jesus told him, like He sometimes did, to not tell others what happened (vs. 43-45). This man was so happy, though, so overjoyed with his healing, he couldn’t help but tell others. He was healed! He could return to his family! He could return to society! However, because of that man disobeying, Jesus was not able to enter that city due to the crowds that swarmed Him, and He was forced to minister to people from a spot outside the city.
Do you feel like someone who has been cast out, rejected, and living on the fringe of society? Do you have some illness, or has something happened in your life to make you feel loathsome? Have you some sin on your soul that needs the touch of the Lord’s forgiveness? Come to Jesus! He will never turn away from you, but instead will reach out to you and wrap you in His arms. Remember His words: “I am willing. Be cleansed.”
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