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We should value those whom some consider to be outcasts.
1 When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
2 Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying,
“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying,
“I am willing;
be made clean.”
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 Then Jesus told him,
“See that you don’t tell anyone;
but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift
that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Share this content from page 69 of the PSG:
“Leprosy” covered a variety of skin diseases
from simple psoriasis to the full-blown disease that causes nerve damage, skin lesions, and open sores.
In certain forms, leprosy can spread to others through body fluids from the nose and mouth.
Leprosy was a dreaded disease with no known cure. .Lepers were isolated from society.
They were required to live alone (Lev. 13:46)
or to live in colonies with other leprous people.
If anyone approached them, they would have to shout,
“unclean, unclean,” as a warning to stay away.
The disease rendered a person both physically and ritually unclean.
Highlight Jesus’s compassion in touching the man and how his healing was immediate.
(v. 3)
Jesus could heal with a word (Matt. 8:5-13; 9:6).
Yet, He did something astonishing:
Christ touched him.
Anyone who came into contact with an unclean person became unclean (Lev. 5:3).
Society considered the man an outcast, but Jesus loved him.
Explain the law’s requirements to declare healing.
(v. 4)
Jesus’s admonition was not intended to keep the healing a secret,
but to follow the law’s procedure.
To be declared clean, the man had to show himself to the priest.
Priests were tasked with diagnosing skin diseases and confirming the cure.
The man also needed to offer the gift that Moses commanded (Lev. 13-15).
Obediently following God’s directions would be a testimony to the priests and the community at large.Jesus went out of His way to touch the untouchable.
He refused to let legalistic rules or customs define His ministry.