"Jesus heals a Leper"

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 15

"Jesus heals a Leper"

One day in a certain village Jesus was visiting, there was a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell to the ground before Him, face downward in the dust, begging to be healed. "Sir," he said, "If you only will, you can clear me of every trace of my disease." Jesus reached out and touched the man and said, "Of course I will. Be healed." And the leprosy left him instantly. — Now the report of Jesus' power spread even faster and vast crowds came to hear Him preach and to be healed of their diseases. (Luke 5:12-15) The deplorable condition of this poor man is found in the word "leprosy."

Leprosy is likened to sin, it has a small beginning, "just a hot burning with a white bright spot deeper than the skin," but from that small beginning it spreads through the whole body. — Sow a thought, reap a word. Sow a word, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny. Sin like leprosy renders a man unclean and separates the victim from his fellow man. Sin and leprosy level all, there is "no difference” be they Princes or paupers it results, if not cured in death. "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom.

f 6:23) The confidence of this poor leper was amazing, but, it was a confidence mixed with humbleness and earnestness as he fell on his face. He beseeches Christ not, "If you can,” but "If you only will." David knew this when he cried, "How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings." (Ps. 36.7) Where we would have looked and loathed, Christ looked and loved. The response was immediate, the man, "full of Leprosy," the Lord full of compassion" put forth his hand and touched him, saying, "of course I will. Be healed." Jeremiah writing of the character of God I said, "Yes there is one ray of hope: His compassion

never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His loving kindness begins afresh each day." (Lam. 3:21.23) Yes, Christ whose hand had created all things and behind which was omnipotence, reached down and touched this poor unwanted leper. What Grace. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that you and I through His poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. 8:9) The willingness of the Saviour is portrayed in the "of course I will.” The

power of The Saviour is also seen in, "Be healed." The wondrous change is found. "And the leprosy left him instantly." It was a complete cleansing. Just as this man believed that Christ could cleanse him of his dreaded disease, so too the sinner who places his complete trust in Christ can be cleansed, made clean. "For by grace are we saved from the wages of sin, through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Not works, lest any man should boast." , (Eph. 2:8.9) Yes, God has promised to listen to every man at Calvary. The only place where the burden of sin can be lifted.