I
am willing, be clean
Scripture:
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed
him. A man with leprosy came and knelt
before him and said, “Lord,
if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached
out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he
was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said
to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to
the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:1-4
Observation:
After the Lord finished
the Sermon of the Mount and came down from the mountainside, large crowds of
people followed him. They had never heard anyone teach like Jesus did, and they
hung on His every word. In the midst of this, Matthew focuses our attention on
one particular incident where a leper comes up to Jesus and kneels before Him,
professing his faith that Jesus can make him clean if only He is willing.
In those days, leprosy
was the most terrible disease that could afflict a person. They had to move
away from society and live as outcasts, having to ring bells and shout
“unclean, unclean” until the day they died. In Matthew, this was the first
recording of the healing of leprosy specifically and thus was probably the
first instance that leprosy was cured in Israel
Another thing about
lepers was that since they were unclean, anyone who touched them would become
ceremonially unclean too and could not go to the temple before undergoing
certain cleansing rituals. Therefore, when Jesus reached out and touched him,
it must have come as a great surprise to the leper who had probably never been
touched by anyone for a long time. Here, instead of becoming unclean himself,
Jesus actually made the leper clean, making him completely well.
And the Lord said those
great words of compassion “I am willing. Be clean!” Leprosy is the most
accurate physical counterpart to reflect the spiritual condition of sin which
separates us from God. It is only when our sins are forgiven and cleansed that
we can come back and have fellowship with God. For every sinner that comes to
Lord Jesus and ask to be made clean, our Lord Jesus says “I am willing, be
clean”, and all his sins are cleansed and forgiven that instant.
Now straight after the
healing, Jesus instructed the leper not to tell anyone about this healing but
to go show himself to the priests as a testimony to them. In showing the
leper’s healing to the priests, it was a declaration to them that a prophet
from God like Elisha was here. For the leper, it was also a necessary step to
be allowed back into societal living.
Application:
The healing of the leper
is a great reflection of our own healing and salvation from our sins by our
Lord Jesus. Praise the Lord that He has healed and saved us through His great
sacrifice for us. In the process of the leper’s healing, Jesus healed him not
just physically but emotionally (by touching him), and socially (by giving him
the confidence to show himself to the priests and be readmitted back to
society). It is the Lord’s will that our healing be complete, in every way.
Now, in this instance, our Lord was clearly willing to heal, but are there
instances where the Lord chooses not to heal? Paul’s reference to the thorn in
his flesh is often interpreted by Bible commentators to be a particular
physical ailment. No doubt, there are times when the Lord may tell us “my grace
is sufficient for you”. However, our part, even in our sickness is to keep
praying, to keep seeking God for healing, while trusting His wisdom and
sovereignty for His timing in all things.
Prayer:
Praise thee, Heavenly
Father, for this great miracle of the healing of the leper. I praise thee, Lord
Jesus, that just as You healed the leper of his leprosy, You healed me and set
me free from my sins. Let my trust always be in You. Even in the times when I
am sick, I will trust You and hope in You for healing. You make everything
beautiful in its time, O Lord, and I declare my trust in Your sovereignty in
all things. In Jesus name, Amen.
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