What does the word leper convey to you? Most of us will never have met or seen one, although we may have seen the sort of skin diseases, that that term included in biblical times. We imagine lepers would be an unpleasant sight, and we know they used to be kept apart from everyone else. They had to call out “unclean!” so that others could avoid them. Perhaps the loathing they experienced, can be best understood by us, if we think how many today look upon those with HIV/AIDS, or perhaps, upon those who are drug-users, prostitutes, or homosexuals. Do you and I look upon such people with understanding and compassion?

Jesus reveals his compassion

Mark tells us that the leprous man came to Jesus – a daring action, that shows us his belief in Jesus’ healing power – begged him on his knees, If you are willing, you can make me clean. He was sure of Jesus’ ability, but not sure of Jesus’ willingness, to heal him, so he came beseechingly, with humility. And Jesus was moved – with compassion – I am willing, he said. And he spoke that word of power, Be clean! – and immediately the leprosy left the man, and he became clean.

Again and again we read in the gospels of Jesus’ compassion – to the sick (Mt 14:14; 20:34), to those afflicted by demons (Mt 15:21-28), to the bereaved (Luke 7:13), and to the hungry crowds (Mk 8:2), whom he sees as sheep without a shepherd (Mk 6:34;Mt 9:36). As they saw these things, the bystanders were moved to praise God. (Mk 2:12; Mt 15:31) Wouldn’t you be?

This, of course, was absolutely right – for compassion is a characteristic of God, to which he, himself, drew attention (Ex 22:27; 33:19). When Moses asked to see God’s glory, he responded with this description, The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ex 34:6) And these words are quoted and echoed in many psalms – including the one whose first five verses we heard read! (See Psa 103:8)

So, if we ourselves show compassion, it is because the Lord moves us by his Spirit, to be like him – which, indeed, is his intention.

Jesus reveals his power and authority

If ever there was a word of power and authority, it was Jesus’ command, Be clean! It reminds me of his word at Creation, Let light be! (Gen 1:3) – and I say His word, because we affirm that Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, by whom, through whom, and for whom – are all created things. (John 1:3; Heb 1:2; Col 1:16; 1 Cor 8:6). By the word of the LORD were the heavens made.. for he spoke and it came to be.. (Psa 33:6,9; Heb 11:3)

Jesus’ encounter with the paralysed man lowered by his friends, through a roof to the feet of Jesus, emphases not only his mastery over the physical world – but also his authority in the spiritual realm. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The faith of the man, and of his friends, was apparent to all – but only Jesus saw that the first need this man had, was to know himself forgiven, set right with God. Indeed, that is our first need too!

But doubtless this man (and others around him) saw his paralysis as God’s judgement on his sin. On another occasion Jesus made it clear that there is no necessary connection between personal sin and suffering (John 9:1-3). But this man needed the assurance that God had forgiven whatever sin lay on his conscience. By this word of Jesus was begun the healing of the whole man, not just his body.

Luke tells us that the Pharisees and teachers of the law, on this occasion, had come from every village of Galilee, from Judea and from Jerusalem. (Lk 5:17) They had come, it seems, in a spirit of examination, ready to find fault in Jesus’ teaching and practice. So this word of assurance was immediately criticised in their thinking. Who can forgive sins but God alone? (1:7)

They were right, of course, for it is God, in the first place, we have offended, however much we may have hurt others. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.. (Psa 51:4) And therefore only God can pardon. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. (Isa 43:25)

That God might be present in the person of Jesus, and be speaking through him, did not enter their thoughts. But, if forgiveness is a divine prerogative, so is healing. The logic of this is pressed home by Jesus – and demonstrated, by his telling the man, Get up, take your mat, and go home! (2:11) By this means, Jesus revealed both his power and his authority.

Jesus clearly calls himself Son of Man – which could mean no more than a mortal human man (Ezek 2:1,3; 3:1,3,10,17...) – but, on his lips, looks back to that exalted figure in Daniel’s vision, who receives from the Ancient of Days, authority, glory and sovereign power.. (Dan 7:14; Mt 26:64).

Jesus reveals his promised reign

 Was there more here than Jesus’ compassion?  Than his power and authority?  I believe there was.  What was the message of Jesus’ first preaching?  Was it not, The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!? (Mk 1:15; Mt 4:17)  

That Sabbath day when he read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, in the synogogue at Nazareth (Lk 4:17-19) he took, as referring to himself, Isaiah’s description (Isa 61:1-2; 42:5-7) of the LORD’s jubilee year of grace and favour. Isaiah is describing the ultimate vindication and blessing of God’s people, and the removal of all their enemies. How then, could Jesus apply this to himself? How could he say, The Kingdom of God is near?

When Jesus read that passage, He has sent me..to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.. he stopped short of saying, ..and the day of vengeance of our God. He knew that God’s plan of salvation had two stages. First of all, there was our need of forgiveness – and he knew he had come to make atonement for our sins, by giving his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45). Only then could we be set free, set right with God, and be restored spiritually.

The Kingdom of God arrives in men’s lives when He rules over them at their request, and then all His blessings spread out to others. The present Gospel Age is the Year of the Lord’s favour. The brief Day of vengeance must follow, but it has not come yet. That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts...(Heb 3:7)

The great love and free grace of God, shown to us in Jesus, was made visible throughout his ministry, by his acts of healing, of cleansing, of deliverance from oppressing and tormenting spirits. God woos us by his demonstration of love, caring and goodness. And, in this way, he sets before us the promise of his ultimate restoration of all things, in a renewed world, set apart for those who’ve committed themselves to him, in trust and obedience.

Jesus wants to heal us

I began by describing the unpleasant reality of leprosy, how in Bible times, it led to exclusion from all social intercourse and help. At that time there was little hope of a cure. That was one reason Jesus ordered the cured leper to go to the priests, not only to perform the prescribed sacrifices of thanksgiving, but as a witness to them, that God had sent his Healer among them.

Biblical leprosy is a picture of sin, because sin separates us from fellowship from God, and impairs our fellowship with one another. And it is humanly incurable. More awful than leprosy, it afflicts every one of us. In the sight of God, we are all lepers, made loathsome by the corruption of our hearts. It makes us insensitive to our true condition, which is rebellion against a loving, but utterly holy God.

And God’s holiness is faithfully and firmly taught to us. Miriam and Aaron became jealous of their brother Moses, and spoke against him, decrying the unique position God had bestowed on Moses. Moses remained silent, but God vindicated him, by making Miriam leprous, until Moses prayed for her (Num 12:1-15). Elisha refused the gifts of Naaman, when God had cured Naaman of leprosy – for God’s grace is free. But Elisha’s servant Gehazi had coveted those gifts for himself, asked for them, received them – but was rewarded by the infliction of Naaman’s leprosy upon himself. (2 Kings 5:20-27)

King Uzziah became proud, thought he should be like pagan kings and offer incense in God’s temple, an action God had reserved to his priests alone. When the high priest and 80 other courageous priests rushed in to prevent him, Uzziah was enraged. But at that very moment God made leprosy to appear on his forehead, and he allowed himself to be hustled out of the temple – a leper for the rest of his days. (2 Chron 26:16-21)

Why have I spoken about such things? Because most of us have as little idea of God’s holiness – and our uncleanness, that makes us unfit to come before him – as these people had. The sins of jealousy, covetousness, and pride are not unknown to any of us. The leprosy just made visible the uncleanness within them, and God’s judgement on our sin.

Also, we too, come all too lightly into our Lord’s holy presence. So we too desperately need to come humbly before the Lord, beseeching him to make us clean. Too often we’re proud, like Naaman, who at first refused to wash seven times in the Jordan. Aren’t the rivers of Damascus better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed? (2 Kings 5:12)

Moreover, not only are we ourselves lepers, in need of cleansing – we’re also paralysed, in need of restoration to useful life for God. Too often, for whatever reasons, we live for ourselves, and not for others, let alone for God. Our thought-life dwells on our own concerns, appetites and desires, and paralyses us from making the Lord the centre of our lives, his will the motive for our actions, his praise the reason for sharing his love with others.

May the wonder of the Lord’s love and compassion towards us, and the knowledge of his power and glory, give us confidence to go to him, and to ask him to create a clean heart in us, and a new spirit, renewing our faith and love. Amen.

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits –
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5