A Leper Healed

Luke 5:12-16

It is hard for most people to imagine the horror of leprosy in our day, because it is so rare. The rare flesh eating bacteria that sometimes appears in our hospitals is probably our closest comparison. Articles I have read state that leprosy itself progressively destroys the nerves’ ability to send messages to the brain about pain or needs for extra nourishment.

Because he feels no pain or discomfort in the injured part, the person causes himself serious injuries, even fracturing bones and tearing off pieces of flesh. Paralyzed people have a similar problem with one major difference. They no longer have control of their muscles, so only get hurt because something happened to them. The leper may unknowingly do it to himself.

In addition, because the nerves do not communicate back to the brain, to send more nutrients or healing responses, Cells die of starvation or infection, causing destruction of body parts. The paralyzed person cannot use his limbs, with the result that the standard flow is sufficient and maintains life in the limb. Since the leper can still use his limbs, the demands are much higher and the standard flow is insufficient, leading to cell death and loss of portions of the body.

Leprosy is highly contagious, and to prevent it’s spread, quarantine was the most effective procedure. The Old testament gave specific instructions for identifying leprosy, and demanded that the infected person warn others of the danger, and avoid accidental contact. While there was no known cure at the time, it sometimes disappeared and a means of determining this and declaring a person cured was also prescribed. It is against this backdrop that Jesus healing the lepers takes place.

“And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.” (Luke 5:12-13)

The leper recognized that Jesus could do what no one else could do, namely cure the leprosy. All he did was ask to be healed, believing that Jesus could. Jesus touched him and healed him with no further effort on his part, then commanded him to follow the procedure of being declared cured.

“And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” (Luke 5:14)

Leprosy is such an illustration of sin, both harming us itself, and causing us to destroy ourselves, while frequently not being recognized immediately. It also spreads from one person to another as a result of close association, so that as I Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Salvation can only be obtained through Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 declares, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Salvation is obtained simply by believing and asking God for it. Romans 10:13 promises, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It is his work that saves, as Ephesians 2:8-10 declares. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Because the leper was healed, he needed to go to the priests and be declared healed. The newly saved person needs to be baptized as a declaration of his salvation. Acts 2:38 commands, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The leper was charged to tell no man before he was declared healed. His obvious change in behavior would portray the change soon enough. As people see what has happened in one life, others come wanting a similar effect in their own life. People flocked to Jesus, desiring healing and to hear what he taught.

“But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.” (Luke 5:15)

One very real danger is that of becoming so caught up in ministering to others that we neglect our own relatinship with Christ. It led to the rebuke of Martha in Luke 10:38-42, and of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. Jesus did not allow himself to be distracted by busyness, nor should we.

“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)