Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Matthew 8:1-4 “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Recently, we passed through our regional capital. As we made our way down the main streets of town, we saw poster after poster advertising a local evangelist who would be conducting healing services for several nights. These posters promised signs and wonders and miracles. While such advertising is quite common, the question is this: Did Jesus advertise his miracles?
Look at the setting. Jesus has just finished delivering the teachings known to us as the Sermon on the Mount and is now surrounded by huge crowds who follow him wherever he goes. Suddenly, a leper staggers into Jesus’ path, kneeling before Jesus and begging Jesus to heal him.
According to Mosaic law, lepers were social outcasts and were barred from any public gathering. Anyone touching a leper would become ritually unclean and would have to go through special rituals for cleansing. This poor man was taking a terrible risk, for zealous believers might start throwing stones at him to drive him away so that they would not accidentally touch him and become unclean in the process.
It’s likely that this leper might not have felt any human touch for several years; yet, Jesus doesn’t hesitate but immediately reaches out and touches the leper. Does Jesus make any announcement or encourage the crowd to watch? Does Jesus ask for someone to play special music or to sound a trumpet? No. Jesus quietly touches the leper and says, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Power goes out from Jesus, the leper is instantly healed, and Jesus tells the man, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
“See that you tell no one?” Jesus? What are you thinking? Here you have a golden opportunity to demonstrate your power before an entire crowd and yet you have gone off in a corner with an untouchable, healed him, and then ordered him not to tell anyone but simply follow the rules laid down by Moses. Not only that, Jesus wants this man to go to the priest and make the appropriate offering “as a testimony to them.”
Who is the “them” to whom Jesus is referring? The priests-Jesus wants this man’s healing to be a testimony to the priests. Those regulations have been in the Mosaic Law for more than 1500 years, and this might be the first time any leper has ever been healed. Jesus realizes that this leper is well known around town. When those priests see this man and examine him, finding him whole and healthy, they will have no choice apart from praising God and gaining in their faith.
Recently, an elderly man of God prayed simple prayers over the two of us for healing. We were sitting in a corner at a conference and there was nothing dramatic or noisy about those prayers; yet, both of us felt remarkably better immediately.
If we are to be true disciples, we must follow the pattern laid down for us by our Master, Jesus. Later on, the Book of Acts describes many miraculous healings when Peter and other disciples pray in the Name of Jesus. Not once do any of these men take credit but instead, they give all the glory to Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with praying for people for healing or for deliverance. But Jesus never advertised and therefore we don’t have to behave as if we are anything apart from being channels of God’s grace. Advertise Jesus? Certainly! Advertise ourselves and we risk being sent away as partners in lawlessness.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to quietly do good, following your pattern. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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