LEPROSY

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

LEPROSY

(Luke 5:12-13)  And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

Leprosy is typical of sin in the Bible because sin is filthy and repulsive.  Let’s compare the two from Leviticus 13 and with a little help from commentator Warren Wiersbe: 

IT IS DEEPER THAN THE SKIN (v. 3):. Sinners cannot be changed by shallow surface remedies; they need to have their hearts changed. See Jer. 17:9, Rom. 7:18, Ps. 51:5, and Job 14:4.

IT SPREADS (v. 7): Leprosy was not an isolated sore on one part of the body; it had a way of spreading and defiling the whole body. Sin also spreads: it begins with a thought, then follows a desire, then an act, then the terrible results (James 1:13-15). Read 2 Sam. 11 about David. 

IT DEFILES (vv. 44-46): Anyone who touched a leper was defiled. This is the tragedy of sin: it defiles the mind, the heart, the body, and all that it touches. One sinner can defile a whole household; think of Achan (Josh. 7). 

IT ISOLATES (v. 46): “He shall dwell alone!” What sad words. Sin always isolates people. It takes them away from family, friends, and, ultimately, from God. When Christ was made sin for us He cried, “Why have You forsaken me?” Sin separates people from God——and this is what hell is.

IT DESTINES THINGS FOR THE FIRE (v. 52): Any garment that was found defiled with leprosy was burned. There is only one place for sin, and that is in the fires of judgment. Jesus described hell as a place where the fire never burns out (Mark 9:43-48).  

But good news! Leviticus 14 gives forth the possibility of God healing this incurable disease.  And that’s what Jesus came to do.  He died on the cross to heal us of that dreadful sickness of sin that we are born with and would die with hopelessly if it were not for His sacrifice.  

Are you covered with spots today?  Then say this prayer today and be cleansed.  If you are willing, then He is too!  

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Louie