When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Jesus said that the works He was doing were not His works, but the Father’s works. Jesus always pointed us to the Father as the source of His power. Only God has the kind of power we see manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. God is the source of all power.
After Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds follow Him. He encountered a man with leprosy. Jesus was "Filled with compassion," It was so important for the man to see Jesus that he doesn't stay away like the lepers were supposed to. He came right up to Jesus with his dreaded disease. With his skin disease he was restricted from work, worship, shopping and public gatherings. He got his food when family and friends left it for him. He had become a beggar from a distance. He knew that Jesus could heal him, he just wanted to know if Jesus was willing?
Jesus was not only willing. Jesus did something equally unusual for that culture. He touched this man with leprosy. He could have just spoken to him and healed him, but He didn’t. He touched him.
As we reach out and touch those who are in need, we begin to be enlarged in our spirit. The joy of the Lord flows into our souls and our spirits are lifted up. That is how Christ used His power – for others. That is how we should use the gifts He gives us.
What did Jesus communicate by that action? His touch showed compassion, He treated the man as one of God's sons, not as an unclean, unlovely object of scorn. He loved him and expressed that, not only verbally, but nonverbally as well.
"I am willing" Jesus said, "I shall do as you have asked, and he spoke, "Be clean” Immediately he was clean. Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cured.
Jesus then sent him away at once with the strong warning, "See that you don't tell this to anyone." Now Jesus had two requests. Keep it secret: “Don't tell anyone” and do what the law required. In Mark 1:45 we read that instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but stayed outside in lonely places, yet the people still came to Him from everywhere.
What would you do if Jesus immediately healed you? Now we’re told to testify of Christ’s saving power, but too often we keep it quiet.
Application: Share something this week that Jesus has done for you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to bring healing and a gentle touch to whoever needs it from me today. Thank you for Your healing hand on my life.
