Broken

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." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

---Luke 5:12-13

Leper: Lonely, Outcasted, Diseased, Hopeless, Broken

At this point in history, there was no known cure for this disease, and not only that but you were deemed “unclean” under the Torah. It can be assumed he didn’t have many, if any friends, and his family probably didn’t want him around either. He must have heard the news of this rabbi, this teacher that had the power to heal the sick and spoke with authority, as Jesus’ ministered to the people of the Galilee. When this leper heard that Jesus was in his town he must have thought “THIS IS MY ONE SHOT AT BEING NORMAL AGAIN!” So he went to find Jesus knowing that this was it. If anyone could heal him Jesus could. This man fell before Jesus, genuinely humble and broken. He begged Jesus to heal him, knowing and believing in his heart of hearts that Jesus had the power to heal him. This man knew that if there was any hope of healing and restoration, Jesus held the power to do so.

“Adoni, Lord, only if you are willing, I know you can make me clean.”

Jesus: Compassion, Restoration, Love, Kindness, Redemption

Jesus’ response is wonderful! He reached out his hand and touched the man, first, then he said, “I am willing.” And with his words the man was healed. This man probably had not had any physical human contact in years. Yet Jesus, before the leprosy is gone, reaches out and places his hand on this man. I can only imagine the compassion and kindness that the leper felt when Jesus placed his hand on him. Then Jesus said the words that would change this man’s life for ever “I am willing, Be clean.”

The leper’s genuine faith in Jesus challenges me. He knew that Jesus could heal him, but came to him with a humble attitude, knowing that Jesus has the ultimate authority.

Jesus’ genuine compassion and kindness challenges my life. I want to share this same genuine compassion and kindness with the people God has placed in my life.

Only when our pride and self righteousness is broken can we come before Jesus to receive and experience his grace and the wonderful life he has for us.

I just thought I would share some of my thoughts. I read this this morning in my quiet time and these two verses and the story that it tells really stood out to me.