Jesus Heals A Leper

Excerpts from the gospels: JESUS HEALS A LEPER
The four unique gospels complement each other and testify to the good news of salvation available in Jesus. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are similar when contrasted with John’s gospel.
There hadn’t been a prophet in five hundred years in Israel. They were professors of the Law and were also lawyers, and the crowds were familiar with their ‘authority’. The crowd who heard Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount could see that the authority of Jesus was the real thing. Jesus could say: ‘You have heard that it was said… but I say to you’. The scribes in their rulings pointed to something, while Jesus was the point. His words were meant to be binding on the consciences of all who heard Him. Jesus also sets Himself up as the judge. How did he gain the right to speak with such authority?

From all the miracles about Jesus, Matthew selects three and each of these three is disadvantaged in some way: A leper, a servant of a Gentile, and a woman. Today we will look at the healing of the leper in Matt 8:1-4

Vs1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
Matthew wants to show the readers that as they move from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount to His works, it is a seamless transition. He wants them to know that Jesus not only taught as one having authority but also did mighty works as one having authority.

(Vs2) And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
Since the 19th Century what is called leprosy is Hansen’s disease. During biblical times, they used the label leprosy for several skin diseases, which could include Hansen’s disease. Enough if we know that the leper in our passage does not have a minor skin ailment. Leprosy in ancient Israel was the most dreaded disease. Lepers had to live away from society. Relatives might leave food for them at a designated place; but they could not have the human contact.
Leprosy was considered a curse. Miriam (Numbers 12:9-15), Elisha’s servant, Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27). King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). There was nothing physicians could do for lepers. The priest could diagnose, but only God could heal them. It was a dreadful thing. Lepers were depicted as ‘living dead’.
The leper doesn’t say, “Lord, if you can, make me clean.” Rather he says, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” He is absolutely convinced that Jesus can heal him. His condition is so deplorable, but his faith is so commendable! It doesn’t matter whether his faith is weak or strong. The crucial element is not the quality of the leper’s faith but the object of his faith.

(Vs3) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Elisha had not touched Naaman during his healing, nor had Moses touched Miriam. But Jesus touched this leper. A ministry of the word must be accompanied by a compassionate ministry of deed. This leper who hadn’t felt a human touch for a long time was touched by Jesus. And in that touch, we see a picture of God’s love.
Both ‘Lord, if you will’ and ‘I will’ recognize that Jesus already had the authority and the power to perform the healing, and all that was needed was His decision to act. We must understand the distinction between Jesus’ sovereign power and Jesus’ sovereign will. Jesus has authority over disease. But it is not His will for everyone to be healed always. Suffering is a mystery. The words of Jesus in the leper’s case brought immediate cleansing.

(Vs4) And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
The former leper had to go through all the requirements that Leviticus 14 lays out. Jesus tells the man not to say anything to anyone. Jesus had not come to impress the crowds; He had come to die for sinners. Moreover, the pronouncement by the priest would also attest the miracle Jesus performed, announcing that something very significant has taken place in a society that believed that there was almost no cure from leprosy.

Conclusion
Under the law (Leviticus 5:3), you become unclean the moment you touch a leper. But when Jesus touched the leper, the leper was healed. Jesus transcends the Law without abolishing it.
That’s the kind of power He has over disease. And that’s the kind of power He has over sin. Perhaps today, there is a powerful sin in your life that is so deep, you think that even Christ Himself can’t break you free from it. This leper is here to tell you, “You’re wrong.” The Lord Jesus Christ has the power, but we must first admit our spiritual leprosy before Him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
To those who have not acknowledged Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life. You are living dead. You are alive physically but dead spiritually. Like leprosy, sin is vile, contaminating, and unclean. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus is the Great Physician and He can heal us of our sin because He took our sin to the cross and bore our punishment. He can transform you from death to life.