Key Verse: “Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” (Mark 1:40-42 CSB)
A couple of summers ago, while our family was on vacation, two of my children showed up at the door covered in mud from head to toe. They had been playing a game with their friends outside that left them completely filthy. Truthfully, I didn’t want them anywhere near me in that condition. So I ended up spraying them down with a garden hose before they came inside.
In the first century, people who were suffering with leprosy were treated in a similar way. They weren’t sprayed with garden hoses per se. But no one wanted to be near them. They were required to walk at least 50 steps behind everyone else and cry out “Unclean!” They were shunned as outcasts in society and were considered to be under God’s curse or punishment because of their disease. To come into contact with someone with leprosy left that person ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law. People with leprosy were to be avoided at all costs.
This is why the encounter between Jesus and the man with leprosy is so shocking and amazing. In this case, the man with leprosy came right up to Jesus and fell on his knees begging Jesus to make him clean. While that would have been shocking enough, Jesus’ reaction is perhaps even more surprising. Instead of shunning or running from him like everyone else would have done, Jesus was “moved with compassion” and amazingly “reached out his hand and touched him” (v.41). As He did, the leprosy immediately left the man, “and he was made clean” (v.42).
One of the reasons why people don’t turn to Jesus in their distress is because they think that He will turn away from them in their time of need. “With all that I have done, how could God accept me?” they might ask. They are painfully aware of all that is “unclean” in their lives. Instead of rushing to Jesus like the man with leprosy did, they fall into the trap of thinking that they first need to clean themselves up before they turn to Him.
Nothing could be further from the truth. “For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners,” (Matthew 9:13) Jesus said. The very reason why Jesus came was to take what is unclean and defiled before God and make it clean and pure in His sight. Only He has the power to do this.
Jesus is not angry or judgmental toward us. Instead, He is motivated by His love to step into our brokenness to make us pure. In His compassion, He reaches out His hand to make clean and good all that is not in our lives. This is the good news of why Jesus Christ has come!
Are you struggling today with something that is “unclean” before God? Only Jesus has the power to make you clean. Turn to Him today. Ask Him to purify you through all that He has done on the Cross. He is willing!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that came and shed your blood on the Cross so that I can be made pure in God’s eyes. Thank you for reaching out your hand toward me. I praise you today for your compassion and love. Purify me today from all that is “unclean” in your sight. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
