So I have been studying the New Testament for the last couple of months using a new commentary and a new app that I got. It has been quite the experience and I am learning so much about the Savior and His power.
One particular story real touched me recently. It is found in Luke 5. A man who is "full" of leprosy approaches Jesus and implores Him for a healing. The man's faith is certainly impressive, as the scripture states that the man says, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
It is apparent that this man believes in the power of Christ. He knows that Jesus absolutely has the ability to heal him. However, he also recognizes the all important principle that we all need to understand... That although the Lord has all power and can heal anything, that healing will only come if it is His will.
Jesus' response is powerful and immediate. He reaches forth His hand and says, "I will, be thou clean." The leper is then made clean IMMEDIATELY! The story is remarkable in every sense of the term, but becomes even more remarkable when you understand a little bit more of the context and how dire this situation really was.
First of all, "In the Bible “leprosy” refers to a variety of skin ailments, including Hansen’s disease, which is the illness often called leprosy in our day. Leprosy is a chronic disease that attacks skin, nerves, eyes, bones, and limbs. Left untreated, it progressively disables its victims before subjecting them to a painful death. Lepers in ancient Israel were quarantined, were commanded to call out “Unclean!” to warn anyone approaching them, and were considered to spread their uncleanness to anyone who came in contact with them (see Leviticus 13:45–46)...Leprosy was considered a living death because it destroyed the physical body as well as the person’s social standing, leaving the victim isolated and alone."
Most people probably know that leprosy was no fun and that people were outcasts that had a case even in its beginning stages, but the scriptures do not just say that this man had leprosy, the scriptures specifically explain that this man was "full" of leprosy. The Greek word used for full here means "Filled up... Covered in every part...thoroughly permeated with."
In other words, this man was likely near death. The leprosy had taken over completely. He had no hope. He was not only about to die physically, but had already died socially, being cast out as unclean. Nobody wanted to be in his company. In fact, the laws in place in Jewish society at the time specifically forbad being in his presence and touching him. We can only imagine the emotion behind this man's request for a healing from Jesus. It certainly must have been offered up with great fervor.
Jesus' response is more than what we see in a superficial reading as well. When the Savior said, "I will, be thou clean.", according to the Greek term for "I will", what He was really saying is, "I would love to make you clean, it would bring me great pleasure and delight to make you clean." Jesus was expressing to this man that not only would He make him clean, but that the reality is that this is what His mission encompassed... to loose heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, to save, to heal, to bless.
Jesus then touched the man. This of course could have been simply a matter of performing the healing through the laying on of hands as we learn in the New Testament was the process, but it was more than that to this man. Jesus was offering human interaction and touch that had been missing from this man's life since he had contracted the dreaded disease. I can only imagine what that touch meant...especially since it was coming from the Master of the Universe Himself! Jesus was doing more than giving him his health back, He was giving him his entire life back!
This story encompasses what Jesus is to each and every one of us. We may be full of the leprosy of sin and guilt. Perhaps we have physical, emotional or mental ailments that have completely taken us over. We all have our struggles. The bottom line is that Jesus has the power to cleanse and heal us no matter how permeating the sin, no matter how debilitating the disease, no matter how too far gone we might think we are. None of us are beyond the light of His atoning grace. None of us are beyond His reach.
No matter your situation, I would encourage you to take that simple leap of faith and earnestly request the blessing of the Savior's healing for whatever it is that is ailing you. That healing may come immediately as it did for this man. The healing may be in the form of additional grace and strength from an all powerful God to help you have the ability to bear your burdens. It is also possible that the healing may not take place until after this life. However, that healing will indeed come. That is the promise of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is something that I know to be true. His yoke is easy and His burden light. His grace is sufficient for all who come into Him. You are not beyond His reach and beyond His divine love. As the apostle Paul said,
"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39
God has all power and that includes the power to heal you! Turn to Him in faith and He will answer your prayers in His time and in His own way, which will be for your ultimate good and benefit. I know that is true! He lives! He loves us! He forgives! He heals! You are not beyond His reach!
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