Luke 5:12-16
The Man With Leprosy
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Jesus reaches out to everyone, no matter what your condition, state of mind, or status...Jesus even helps people that others considers outcasts...God reaches out to everyone...
We are told this man is covered with leprosy...Most people would have shunned the man, in part because many skin conditions were communicable...This person was probably not a part of regular society, and some may have avoided him for that and other reasons...Generally speaking man has a group of friends and doesn't so much go outside that circle...Jesus on the other hand had a circle of close disciples and was always going outside of the Twelve and helping, healing, and teaching people (even outcasts) about the LORD...
This man covered with leprosy, when he sees Jesus fell with his face to the ground...He humbly asks Jesus, "LORD, if you are willing, you can make me clean"...The sick man knew that Jesus could heal him...But he did not know if Jesus wanted to or was willing to help with his condition...
This is two important points we need to remember...Jesus has the capability to always heal or help us...But as part of God's plan will this healing or helping that we think we need get done or completed...I think in today's society, we forget both these points...Jesus can heal or help anything, and number two-is that help, healing, or assistance part of God's plan...Part of this man's confidence maybe that, in this specific case, the leper probable had heard or saw Jesus do healing miracles (although we are not told that here)..Or the leper may have felt something when Jesus got close to him...But without question, the leper knew Jesus could heal him...The leper shows and leaves us no doubt in his statement about how he feels about Jesus ability to heal him, (because he had no doubt)...
Jesus reached out and touched the leper...That act would make Him ceremonially unclean according to Leviticus 14...Jesus would become unclean, according to Mosaic Law, and still heal the leper...Jesus says I am willing...
Immediately, the leper was healed...There was no delay, one touch, one act and immediately the sick was healed...What is interesting about this, Jesus had done many other miracles without touching, so Him reaching out and touching this man would have surprised some...He did not have to touch the leper, but for a reason we are not disclosed, He did...
Jesus tells the healed man not to tell anyone...Jesus does tell him to make the normal sacrifice that Mosaic Law commands as a testimony to God...Maybe the reason for not telling anyone, is that Jesus does not want to be known as the Miracle Man...He wants us to be less focused on His miracles and more focused on God and the kingdom of heaven, and helping others...
After the healing, Jesus seeks time to be with God alone, and often goes to lonely places to pray...Praying and talking to God should be a daily part of our lives like it was in Jesus' life...
Word gets out about this and His other miracles and His fame spreads throughout Israel...
Jesus did many miracles, but that was not the reason He came...Sometimes we get caught up in His great miracles, we forget He came for each of our sins and died for us...Jesus died for us, because we are sinners...God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us (our sins)...That is the reason He came...