40And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
"And a leper came to Jesus."
The lepers in those days were kicked out of their communities, they were not allows to come in contact with people, and when a priest would walk anywhere near them they had to shout "Unclean unclean!" and the priest would stone them.
Why was this leper not afraid that Jesus was going to stone him?
After being apart from society for so long, what did he see in Jesus that made him approach Him with such boldness?
After being rejected and hurt so many times by the priests, what made him try one more time by falling at the feet of Jesus and beseeching Him?
It's because Jesus is MERCY! when he saw Jesus he saw mercy! Jesus is love! when he saw Jesus, he saw love!
He had ran out of hope until he saw Jesus, then in a moment his heart came alive because he finally found one who was unlike all the others in the land. he finally found one who was the exact representation of the Father. After beholding Jesus, he did not fear, he did not hold back. in desperation he went after the One, the only One he know could heal him.
"If You are willing, You can make me clean."
I believe this statement moved the heart of Jesus.
Probably for years now, no priest, no one was willing to show compassion to this man. no was willing and no one could cleanse him. but he still poured out his heart at the feet of Jesus, because he had faith that Jesus could heal him.
Oh what faith this man had! with no doubt on his heart, he declared "if You're willing, You CAN MAKE ME CLEAN!"
The cry for mercy the man had broke His heart!
it says that Jesus was moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand and touched him, and he said... "I AM willing, be cleansed"
Jesus moved with compassion gave this man more than he could have ever asked for.
He gave him a touch
This man had probably not been touched by anyone in years! His heart would have been broken because of this. He probably cried daily remembering the last time his wife had touched him, remembering the last time his son gave him a hug.
Along with being a leper this man was dying of loneliness, he was dying of a broken heart.
And out of the kindness of Jesus heart he touched him!!! With one touch, Jesus healed years of hurt! Jesus restored that man's heart before He restored his body.
He said, "I AM WILLING"
With those words Jesus reveled to him his character, He showed him that He was different than all the others. He reveled to him His heart, He reveled to him who He was and what the Father was like... Gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in mercy... a Father who loves to give good gifts to His children... who was willing to forgive, who was a merciful and mighty to heal everyone who comes to Him.
Unlike the priest and the Pharisees who were not willing to show mercy but on the contrary, hurt him even worse.
Jesus was willing to get as close as the man would come to him.
Jesus was willing to show compassion to the least of the earth.
Jesus was willing to touch the untouchables.
Jesus was willing to show His love towards him by healing him completely!
be cleansed.
With those two words He did what no one else could, he healed a leper man.
He cleansed him by the washing of the word (Eph. 5:26)
And more than that, He gave the man's life back!
No longer would he have to hide on the outskirts of society, but he was completely restored as a man and granted access into the community.
Jesus did what he came to do... To give life and life abundantly!
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