“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’” – Luke 5:12
In ancient Israel, leprosy was a terrible disease with terrible consequences. While a leper’s body decayed visibly and painfully, that wasn’t even the most miserable part of the disease! The worst part was what the Law required of anyone suffering this potentially contagious condition. They were “unclean” in the eyes of God and man. They were forced to live in isolation. To wear rough clothes and keep their distance from everyone who was healthy. They couldn’t touch anyone. Not family. Not friends. They couldn’t live with anyone who wasn’t already sick with the disease. They couldn’t worship the Lord in the Temple or make sacrifices to have their sins forgiven. Whenever anyone came close, they had to shout out, “Unclean” to warn them away. Uncleanness was all that was left of their previous identity.
This man who came to Jesus certainly knew that he was unclean. Physically rotten and unacceptable in the eyes of God and neighbor. With that deep awareness of his own dreadful uncleanness, he came and begged Jesus to make him clean. He knew Jesus had the power but would He care enough to clean the unclean? YES! With great love and compassion, Jesus did what was forbidden… He reached out, gently touched the man, and made him clean in the eyes of God and the world.
This man speaks for all of us – ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ He speaks for you. Though most of us don’t have an awful disease that makes us social outcasts, we’re all spiritually unclean from the moment we’re born. We are selfish creatures, rebellious in our nature. We routinely reject God’s will and ways to do whatever we want in the moment. Unlike the leper, our uncleanness isn’t limited to our skin – it runs deep into our hearts, minds, and souls. But Jesus can clean even our filth! By His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, Lord Jesus cleans everyone who turns to Him in faith and away from their sins.
Have you humbled yourself before Jesus and asked Him to make you clean? If not, don’t wait! Repent of your sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you right now. He will lovingly touch you as He touched that leper and make you clean.
If you’ve already done that, then realize this truth – YOU ARE CLEAN. Don’t let your past lie to you about your situation in Christ. If Jesus is your Lord, you ARE clean. Don’t let the people around you lie to you about your situation in Christ. If you have confessed your sins to Jesus, they’re gone forever. You ARE clean. God knows it. Do you? Don’t believe lies about your situation in Christ. You ARE clean! #FollowJesus