The man with leprosy (Luke 5)

Jesus is willing to heal us, but we must submit ourselves to Him. In Luke 5:12-14, we read about a man who is covered with leprosy, which is a contagious disease.

A person with this ailment is affected in his or her mucous membranes and nerves (in the hands and feet). He or she will also have discoloration and lumps on the skin, and live with disfigurement and deformities.

In the Bible, people with leprosy were isolated by being restricted outside the city ‘dump.’ Plus, it was ceremonial unclean to touch them, yet Jesus comes into contact with this leprous man in Luke 5.

The Bible says the man falls to the ground and begs, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Then Jesus, the holy Lamb of God, reaches out his hand and touches the contagious man, and replies, “I am willing…be clean!” And the leprosy leaves him immediately.

Next, Jesus advises the man to go to the priest and offer sacrifices that Moses commanded for the cleansing of a leper.

Why did Jesus send the man to the priest? So his cleansing would be a testimony to others (verse 14).

What we can learn from this text

• We can go to Jesus for healing of our diseases because He is our High Priest who is sympathetic with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).
• Bow before Jesus and cry out to Him, for He is willing to make us clean. 
• Furthermore, there are people watching to see how God will clean and heal us; therefore, when God heals us that will be a great testimony of the power of Jehovah Rapha. 

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For more information read "Leviticus 14 - Rituals On the Cleansing of a Leper"