Matthew 8: 1- 2 “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
It had been a slow day at the temple – too hot, too dusty, and very few people. Aaron the priest was sitting in the shade of an olive tree outside the temple gate when Ezra the Leper came dashing up to him. Everybody knew Ezra. Until a few years ago, Ezra had been a successful local businessman with a wife and children. Then came the awful day when Ezra noticed a sore on his hand that refused to heal and realized that there was no pain, even though the sore was a deep one. When Ezra examined his body, he realized he had other wounds he had never noticed before because there was no pain. Quickly informing his wife, Ezra went to the temple and showed himself to Aaron the priest, who agreed that Ezra had developed leprosy. From that day forward, Ezra became a social outcast, barred from temple worship and living on the edge of town by himself. Ezra had no hope; even though the Law made provision for the healing of leprosy, he had never heard of anybody actually being healed. Through the years, Ezra had to watch his children grow up from a distance. He couldn’t have normal conversations with his friends. Ezra’s wife did continue to carry on their business, but it was difficult. Ezra was the one with the managerial skills.
Of course, Ezra had heard about the Teacher from Nazareth who was teaching out on that hillside! Who hadn’t? Then came the morning Ezra learned that the Teacher was on the move. Ezra was torn; on the one hand, he was supposed to avoid people. But what if? what if this Teacher really did have authority to heal sicknesses and even to heal leprosy? After all, what did Ezra have to lose? So Ezra got ahead of the crowd and knelt before Jesus. Suddenly Ezra KNEW! He KNEW that Jesus could make him whole again. Ezra didn’t beg. Ezra simply presented himself and said, ““Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And Jesus reached out his hand and touched Ezra’s shoulder. “I am willing,” Jesus said. “Be clean!”
It was the gasps from the crowd that first caused Ezra to realize that he really had been healed! Gaping sores on hands and feet were gone, with new clean flesh in their places. There was no scent from rotting flesh anymore. And best of all, when Ezra stubbed his toe as he turned to run to the temple, his toe hurt! Ezra hadn’t been able to feel pain in his feet for years.
Ezra took off for the temple at top speed! When Aaron saw Ezra coming, Aaron couldn’t believe it. What was this mad leper doing? Didn’t he know he wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the temple unless he had been healed? And who had ever heard of the healing of a case of leprosy? Certainly, Moses had taught about this in Leviticus 13, but nobody had ever seen leprosy actually being healed. But Aaron had no choice. Before Aaron knew what was happening, Ezra had thrown himself at Aaron’s feet. “I’m clean! I’m clean! I’m clean! The Teacher from Nazareth healed me and I am CLEAN!!!!!”
Aaron took a few steps back and then really looked at Ezra. That morning when Aaron had seen Ezra at a distance, he had notice that Ezra had sores all over his face and that part of his nose was being eaten away. Now Ezra’s face was completely healed. That morning, Ezra’s fingers and toes were mere stumps; now they were whole and perfect. Quickly sending for some of the elders, Aaron took Ezra inside the temple into a changing room and examined Ezra minutely. Ezra was quite correct! The leprosy was gone. When the elders came, Aaron shared his findings, and all agreed that they were witnesses to a miracle.
Leaving the temple, Ezra started walking back to his house, the home he had been forced to leave more than five years ago. A sturdy little boy came running up and grabbed Ezra around the legs. “Are you my daddy?” the little boy asked. “Mommy has had us praying for you every day that you would be able to come home.”
Looking up, Ezra saw Miriam, his beloved wife, whom he had not been able to even touch or speak to for all that long time. With one glad cry, Miriam launched herself into Ezra’s arms. “Praise Jehovah! Our prayers have been answered!”
And so it was that Ezra the Leper once more resumed his role as father, husband, and as Ezra the Businessman. All because Jesus passed by.
Today, what healings do you need in your life? Are you harboring unforgiveness? Are you treasuring up hurts and plotting revenge? Are you hurt because someone else got your promotion or another honor you had been promised? Let Jesus heal you! He is only a prayer away.
PRAYER: Father God, we confess that we have spiritual leprosy that has been eating away at us. But Lord, all healing comes from You. Please heal us and help us to turn away from our sins and to follow hard after You. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment