Lessons from a Leper
Early in Jesus’ ministry a leper came to Jesus in great humility and hope of healing. The account takes place in the Gospel of Mark 1:40–45 (also Mt 8:2–4; Lk 5:12–14). Jesus had just preached the Sermon of the Mount of Beatitudes, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. As the crowds followed Him toward Capernaum, the encounter occurs with this man “full of leprosy” (Lk 5:12).
Leprosy, a skin disease, caused a person to be ceremonially unclean, which demanded separation from worship in the Temple. In the Bible, sin is analogous with leprosy. The separation, both physical and spiritual, also proved to be a picture of God’s judgment. Lepers would cover their faces and call out, “unclean! unclean!” if they moved about in public. The law for lepers is found in Leviticus 14.
The first thing we notice is the man’s approach to Jesus (Mk 1:40). He demonstrates a remarkable faith in the new preacher/teacher/healer, and this includes a very proper reverence, “falling on his knees before Him.” People who come to Jesus, in need, also come in humble submission. This man had evidently observed the works and words of Jesus from a distance, including the healing of multitudes of people (Mk 1:32–34). No doubt joy abounded for others following their encounter with Jesus. The healer of Israel had come, and all who came to Him found rest from their weary struggles with diverse spiritual and physical maladies (Mt 11:28).
Sin is man’s most formidable problem. Like leprosy, sin spreads, and it ultimately causes death. It is certain the physicians of the day had tried various oils and ointments to remedy skin diseases of every kind. Leprosy was like a death sentence, however. There was no solution. Curing a leper was like raising someone from the dead. It was not common, but there were stories of miraculous healing.
Miriam, Moses’ sister, was instantly plagued with leprosy in judgment for her rebellion against God’s anointed leader, during Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Num 12:10). She was later healed. Naaman, the captain of the army of Aram was struck with leprosy, and it took a miracle washing in the River Jordan at the command of the prophet Elisha to heal him (2 Kgs 5). He was the only leper to be healed during the days of Elisha, so we understand the significance of even one leper healed (Lk 4:27). Later, Jesus healed ten lepers at one time in Samaria (Lk 17:11–21).
Healing a leper was like full blown forgiveness of sins. If the healing was not one hundred percent, then the leprosy would creep back and consume more and more flesh. When sin is not fully forgiven, it creeps back and consumes the soul. Death is the end of leprosy in the flesh, and death is the end of sin for both body and soul. Full healing is like full forgiveness. It is full deliverance.
Next, the prostrate man made his request known to Jesus, “If You are willing, You can make me clean (Mk 1:40c).” How different is this attitude from the religious leaders in Jesus’ day? Their desire to control Jesus meant they would not bow down to Him, nor beseech Him for healing. How different is the leper’s attitude from today’s Arminian desire to control his own circumstances regarding sin? The Arminian says, “It is my free will to be healed of my leprous sin.” Or using their own words, “I have decided to be healed.” The arrogance of man placing his will above God’s will cannot achieve the desired healing because God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (Jam 4:6). Easy believism and free will decisionalism is not what is depicted by this despondent leper.
Submission to the will of God is a crushing blow to human pride. Helpless lepers are clean of pride. They have arrived at the cellar of human experience in this sinful world. The will and power of Jesus Christ is everything. All the leper could do is present himself before the Lord. The sinner brings her sin to Jesus, like the leper brought his leprosy. There is no remedy apart from Jesus, and humble submission to His will is the only option. Even Jesus demonstrated this in the Garden of Gethsemane in beseeching His Father to “take this cup (of suffering) if it is possible.” One prays for deliverance, and then accepts the reality of God’s will, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thy will be done (Mt 6:39).”
Sinful people must repent of their own remedies. When the damage of sin to the soul becomes apparent to them, and when they recognize their helplessness to solve their sin problem, they hear the Gospel of salvation from sin, “And a leper came to Him…” Faith embraces the truth that, “God is able (2 Cor 9:8a).” The leper responded to Jesus, by coming and asking for the will of the Healer. His faith said, “You can make me clean (Mk 1:40c).”
Mark 1:41 reveals much about Jesus. We have a sympathetic High Priest in our Savior (Heb 4:15). “And moved with compassion,” echoes the psalmist in telling us the heart of God, “Gracious is Yahweh, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate (Ps 116:5).” Compassion means, “to enter into the suffering of another.” Jesus touched the leper (Mk 1:41).
Nobody touches a leper. Skin diseases such as this one were contagious. It is hard to imagine having absolutely no bodily contact with anyone else, ever. Human touch is precious, but it is taken for granted by all, except maybe for lepers. Who knows how many years it had been since this man had been touched? If he could even feel the Savior’s hand upon his flesh, for leprosy deadens the nerves, it must have been a stunning sight.
Jesus extends His forgiveness to humble sinners in need of a Savior. All who come to Him, He will in no way cast out (Jn 6:37). Jesus can heal with His words, too, “I will…be thou clean (Mk 1:41).” The will of God our Savior powerfully meets humble sinners. Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). When forgiven, they become part of God’s holy nation (1 Pet 1:16; 2:9). How quickly is forgiveness of sins credited to one’s account?
“And immediately the leprosy left him (Mk 1:42a),” is a glorious picture for sinners. The word and touch of Jesus made the leper clean. He was fully and completely healed, according to the will of God. The leper received healing by the merciful work of Jesus Christ. By grace, the leper was saved from leprosy, through faith, not of the leper’s own doing, but it was a gift of God.
Sinners are regenerated in the blink an eye (Acts 16:14). When the mercy and grace of God visit the humble sinner, the miracle is secure. The Holy Spirit enters the heart of the one chosen for salvation, who has come to Jesus, and who is made new by being born again of God. The leper had a new lease on life, as one being raised from the dead. Sinners, dead in sin, are given new life in Christ (Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:17). The weight of guilt is lifted (Heb 9:14). Freedom from captivity to sin is their blessing received by the Word of God spoken to them, “Your sins are forgiven (Mk 2:9).”
The law of the leper (Lev 14) required an inspection by a priest when a leper was healed. The leper needed confirmation from a recognized authority. Jesus sternly warned the man, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them (Mk 1:44).” Clearly, this healing took place in a private meeting between the leper and Jesus. If others were present, maybe with the exception of His earliest followers, they would have increased Jesus’ popularity by giving an account of this miracle.
Miracle healing is very popular. Even the charlatans of our day recognize this fact. While they crave and covet popularity for the sake of fame and riches for themselves (Ezek 34), Jesus wished for His ministry to reveal His identity as the Son of God and Messiah. People misconstrue much, and this was true for Jesus’ ministry. The people loved the miracles, but when He preached the need for one’s absolute dependence on Him, most departed from following Him (Jn 6). Ironically, the religious leaders despised Jesus for the very popularity He was shunning (Jn 12:19).
If a priest were to declare this man, “clean,” people would know a miracle has happened in Israel. It would be a testimony of Jesus’ identity and power. The leper’s miracle healing foreshadows the intense conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment. Nothing would infuriate the authorities like Jesus declaring the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins (Mk 2:10); but which is easier, to declare forgiveness of sins, or to heal a leper or paralytic (Mk 2:1–11)? The power and authority of God was required in either scenario. Jesus was making another significant claim in asking His rhetorical question (Mk 2:9–10), He was claiming to be God.
The leper made clean presents a conundrum for us. He disobeyed Jesus’ warning to go see the priest in compliance with the Mosaic Law. Instead, he went out and proclaimed what Jesus had done for him (Mk 1:45). Apparently, we should frown on his disobedience to Jesus’ command and the command of God to Moses; but can we frown on his zeal to make Christ Jesus known to the people of Israel?
John Mark reports the consequence of this man’s actions. It was significant. Jesus was prevented from entering cities because this man’s testimony made the Healer all the more popular. Where before, houses were filled with Jesus and His spectators (Mk 2:2), now cities could not hold the curious throng. Despite Jesus’ retreat to rural places, “they were coming to Him from everywhere (Mk 1:45d).”
In summary, we have seen a man in great need come to Jesus Christ. The Healer did not disappoint the diseased. The healed man now had something to herald. We also observed the parallel between sin and leprosy. The same is true for humble sinners coming to Jesus for forgiveness. He does not disappoint anyone who comes to Him, and those who come to Him cannot contain their exuberant witness of His grace and power.
In conclusion, we have learned some important lessons from this biblical account. All men are called to come and see the works of Jesus and listen to His words. When a sinner acknowledges the futility of his position, he is ready to come to the Cross, where Jesus Christ was crucified. At the Cross is the Savior, who accepts those who like Himself, who are cursed upon the tree of judgment. If the leper can say in faith, “You can make me clean,“ then, the thief can say, in faith, “Remember me in your kingdom (Lk 23:42).” Jesus’ reply to both was timely. “Immediately” the leper was clean, and “today” the thief joined Jesus in heavenly paradise (Lk 23:43).
Have you heard of Jesus Christ? Have you read of His mighty works? Have you considered the testimony of those who have been touched by Him? Do you believe their report of knowing their sins are forgiven? People have come to Jesus. They have received the remedy to their greatest problem. As a result, they refuse to stop talking about their gracious and loving Savior, as I have done here.
David E. Norczyk
Keizer, Oregon
January 8, 2021
