The Leper

00:00:00 Speaker 1: A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him and saying to him, if you want to, you can make me clean. Mark one forty. Almighty God, we are reminded of your absolute sovereignty and the limitless scope of your power. We humbly ask for a deeper understanding of your will for our lives. Grant us the wisdom to discern your plans, the patience to await your timing, and the strength to follow where you lead, even when the path is unclear. With earnest hearts, we pray that your will will be done in us and through us. May our desires align with yours, and may our lives reflect your love, grace, and power. Help us to trust to your ability to transform, to heal, and to renew, just as Jesus did for the leper. In your holy name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast. This month, we're focusing on the miracles of Jesus, igniting our faith and filling us with wonder. If you want to support this podcast, be sure to follow and subscribe. Doing so will help others find us so we can share the story of Jesus worldwide. Joic Him sat in the dust and scratched at a scab on his arm. He peeled it away, leaving pink, raw flesh underneath. He barely felt the pain. He barely felt anything. The ability to fe i pain had rotted away with the rest of his body. Joachin tore some fabric off his robe and wrapped it around his open mound. Yet another limb was needed to be covered. Joachim was a ghastly sight. Leprosy had slowly stripped away his humanity. It had only been two years since the red spots on his legs had formed. What began as a mild blemish slowly progressed into large pustules, eventually turning into white, rotted flesh. Then came the soreness and stiffness in his hands and feet. Gripping a tool or holding bread became a chore. By the time he was too weak to help himself, he was cast out of the city. He was unclean, unwonted. Joachim might as well have been dead to the people who once loved and cared for him. He certainly felt dead. He had lost all color in his face and the hair from his head and brows blew away with the wind. Joachim tucked himself away in the canyons outside the city, living off weeds, wild perries, and the occasional morsel of bread tossed in his direction. Joachim laid on the cold stone walls of his cave and day dreamed about simpler times. Before his gum started receding and his teeth fell out. Before he had to place a bandage over his left eye, Joachim gummed an old piece of bread and sighed. He missed his teeth. Joachinb missed the taste of bread, the smell of fresh rosemary, loaves, and cheese. He missed a lot of things. Mostly, he missed the feeling of other people around him, a hug from a friend, a handshake, a kiss on the cheek. Every now and then, in his daydreaming, he would meditate on thoughts of the law. Mosaic law had made conditions for healed lepers that they could go to a priest with evidence of their healing and be accepted back into the community again, accepted into the synagogue, received among people. In his mind, he saw himself dressed not in bandages, but in regular clothing, brushing shoulders with those in the synagogue. If the levitical code made space for it, it must be possible, right possible, possible His healing was possible. 00:04:58 Speaker 2: We were created to be in community. It's wired in our hearts to desire connection with others as people. We've been created in God's image, who by nature lives in community as the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But what happens when we're disconnected from community and even worse from God. Jesus came into this creation to seek and save the lost. As Jesus recounts in the Parable of the Lost Son, God rejoices when we're reunited with Him and celebrates our salvation by welcoming us into community. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast. I'm Zach, your host from pray dot com. It's awesome having you with us today. Before we jump into the story, take a moment to follow the podcast and shared with a friend. These small steps actually have a huge impact. The podcasting space is crowded and it's hard to get noticed, so any small effort on your part is greatly appreciated. All sin separates us from God and is deserving of death. We know that all sin separates us from God, and all sin has this slow decaying effect of our soul. And there were few things more symbolic of this in Jesus's time than leprosy. The physical decay of the body was a stark reminder of the decay of the soul apart from God. 00:06:09 Speaker 3: The spread of the. 00:06:10 Speaker 2: Disease that would eventually consume the body was a shadow of the spread of sin that would eventually consume one's heart. The physical uncleanness caused by leprosy forced those with it to be driven out of the community to prevent its spread to others. But how does Jesus react to leprosy? How does Jesus stepped in? How does Jesus step into the impurity of the human heart? 00:06:36 Speaker 1: Joic compositioned himself by the mountainside to get a good view of the city gates. This was a special place, a perch designated for a purpose. The man who worked miracles, the rabbi named Jesus, had gone up this road to the mountain that morning to teach. The followed him. At some point he had to come back down. Surely, if anyone could heal Joachum, it would be him. It was not a question of if Jesus could, only if he was willing. Ugh, what a risk, Joachim sighed to himself. There was no guarantee that Jesus would even come close to him. He was a leper, unclean, unwanted. No self respecting or sane rabbi would dare come close to a leper. He wouldn't just be at risk of leprosy himself, but coming near Joachim would make him ceremonially unclean and unable to teach in the synagogue. 00:07:48 Speaker 3: If he's willing to, I know he could make me clean. 00:07:52 Speaker 1: Now that was the deep desire of Joachim's heart to be clean. His leprosy was so all encompassing and present in his life that it affected his very soul. He was rejected, cast aside, and marginalized. His condition stripped him of any meaningful connection to others, essentially robbing him of what made him human. Joachim felt like a dirty animal. He wanted to be rid of this disease once and for all, or wrought away in the cave, never to be seen again. Joachim waited all day, anticipating what he would say to Jesus. He rehearsed how he would say it, repeatedly, so obsessively that he almost missed the chattering sound in the distance. The crowd was coming down from the mountain. He peered up the road with his good eye. Jesus was walking down the rocky path toward the gate, with dozens of people trailing in his wake. Now or never yaking, Now was his chance to make a move to make himself known. He rushed forward and scaled down the jagged hill. His limbs flailed like wet rags, and his three fingered hands covered his toothless mouth. He didn't want to scare people, but he had to get with an ear shot of Jesus. He fell on the road, daring to get near the crowd, and slid on his knees in front. 00:09:36 Speaker 3: Of Jesus, Lord, Lord Jesus. 00:09:40 Speaker 1: Jokim's voice was dusty and worn. He had just realized how long it had been since he spoke to another person, let alone shouted. With a quiver in his speech and hope in his heart, he cried out to Jesus and. 00:09:59 Speaker 3: Said, if you are willing make me glean. 00:10:03 Speaker 1: It came out like an exclamation, not a question, and instantly the lever felt the intense glares from those around him, their hate, their judgment. The crowd stepped back. Mothers held on to their children, and a few men prepared to run. Joachim looked up at them. It had been a while since he had seen his reflection. However, in that moment he could see his disfigured face reflected in their glances. They didn't see him as a person. He was a symbol of death. Joachim immediately covered himself, hiding his face from the children's terrified eyes. Again, he begged Jesus, but this time in a low whisper, a prayer. 00:11:01 Speaker 3: If you are willing, you can make me clean. 00:11:05 Speaker 1: Joachin was covering his only good eye, but amidst the crowd's murmuring, he heard footsteps approaching him. Joachim looked up. Jesus was walking toward him. 00:11:18 Speaker 3: Ay, by, what are you doing? One of them shouted, you can becoming clean, you can die. 00:11:25 Speaker 1: Jesus ignored their objections and continued. Joachum caught a blurry glimpse of jesus face. His brows tilted upward and the sides of his cheeks clenched. It wasn't a look of disgust. Jesus had compassion. Jesus was filled with sorrow for Joacum. He knew how hard his life had been. He knew the pain of the disease, but also the sting of rejection and loneliness. Jesus saw it all. He was moved by love. Joakim's good eye widened when he saw jesus hand extend toward him. No, Joakum exclaimed. He recoiled, afraid of what he could do to Jesus if he touched him, But Jesus didn't relent. His hand continued to move with intention. Then, for the first time in years, Joacin felt the touch of another human, a reassuring hand on his shoulder, the gesture of compassion, love and understanding. It was almost too much to bear. The lack of connection over the years had scarred Joacom's mind, The damn of sorrow and loneliness held back in his heart burst and the poor leper crumpled in tears. Then, with strength and love flowing from his voice like a steady river, Jesus spoke, my son, I am willing to heal you. Jesus gripped Joachin's shoulder and brought him in closer. This time it was an embrace of tenderness and compassion be clean. Chills rushed down Joacin's spine, his heart leaped in his chest. The leper situated his leg under him and stood, And as he did, he felt strong legs, muscles, tendons, and sinew clench into place. His eyelids opened wide, his jaw slid back into place. Beneath his bandages, he felt not raw flesh, but tender new skin. Jesus smiled and removed the bands from Joachim's right eye. He saw Jesus clearly. He saw the face of healing and new beginnings. 00:14:10 Speaker 3: I yes, yes, you are thank you. What could I ever do to repair you? See that? 00:14:20 Speaker 1: You say nothing to anyone but go show yourself to the priest and offer a gift that Moses. 00:14:27 Speaker 3: Commanded has poof for them. 00:14:29 Speaker 1: Joagb's chest turned and moisture gathered in his eyes. He would live his dream at last. He ran down the road toward the synagogue where the priest would be. As he sprinted around the corners and passed the marketplace, the townspeople gawked at him. Surely this could not be the same leper, but it was. The villager stopped him and asked him how it was possible. The same face as he'd known all his life life, only now they would look him in the eye, they would call him by name. 00:15:08 Speaker 3: Thank you? What could I ever do to repair you? 00:15:12 Speaker 1: He couldn't help but shout to everyone he saw. Immediately, Joachim was caught up in a flurry of questions. People pressed him at every side, asking who Jesus was, where he was staying, and what else he had seen him do. Joachim was beaming with joy, devoid of human connection for so long, but he had disobeyed Jesus instructed him to tell nobody what had happened and instead go straight to the priests. Joachim, in his joy, had lost track of the mission. A frenetic energy vibrated throughout the city. Soon hundreds of people poured out of the gates to catch a glimpse of the one who healed a leper. Jesus, having wanted to remain anonymous a little while longer, was now pressed on every side by a mob of people. Throngs of villagers caved in on him, begging to be healed. Instantly Joachin realized what he had done. It would be impossible to honestly go to the temple now, too much had been set in motion. By the time he realized what he had done, it was too late. 00:16:37 Speaker 2: The story of the cleansing of the leper is a beautiful picture of the love of God. Though we may not be able to identify with the leper in his physical condition, it's likely that we can relate to him in its consequences. Having been driven out from the community, the leper we called Joachim had begun to forget what it felt like to be loved, welcomed, and accepted by others. What was even worse is that he couldn't have changed his situation. He knew that he was removed for good reason, to protect others from having to endure the same pain and agony that he had, But in hearing the testimony of the healer they called Jesus, he was willing to break the rules for a chance to be made well. It's easy to imagine that this decision wasn't one to take lightly. If Jesus was a man like any other Jew, surely he wouldn't want to be exposed to leprosy in its deadly blow. But luckily for him, Jesus wasn't a man like any other jew. Jesus was a man like no other before or since. He was the Messiah, and he would step into this man's mess, he would perform a miracle, a miracle that would only happen if Jolakin was willing to approach Jesus. Perhaps we've had moments where we've questioned whether or not we should approach Jesus with our needs. Maybe we felt like we can't approach Jesus because of a sense of unworthiness, or perhaps it's busyness, or maybe we're afraid to approach God, fearful that he might reject us, or it won't bring about the results we're hoping for. Part of our problem is we live in a world in culture that's primarily merit based. As children, we have to do our chores to earn our allowance in school, you have to study to earn good grades. As adults, we have to interview well to prove we deserve jobs that we want to have. We have to earn money to buy food, clothes, shelter, and care for any other needs that we have and for not careful, we can unknowingly or sometimes even knowingly, transfer that system onto Jesus. We think we have to earn his favor and be deserving of a hand of blessing. And if we think of Jesus as the ultimate prize in life, we might consider ourselves unworthy of him because we haven't earned him, we haven't done enough. But grace isn't a prize to be one. It's a gift to be received, Paul says in Romans six twenty three for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What we deserve based on our merit is death, But that's not what we find with the Gospel message. Again, Paul shares this in Ephesians. Ephesians two three says, like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath, but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved. Paul also says that grace is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. By definition, grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Contrary to the striving that this world calls us to do in order to get anywhere or get ahead. The Gospel tells us that if we simply humble ourselves in faith to Jesus, we receive the greatest gift of all his love and eternal life in being saved from our sins. Jesus doesn't expect us to clean ourselves up or live a blameless life before we can come to him. If that were the case, no one would be able to draw near to him. Jesus mays it clear through his words and actions that whoever comes to him will find grace. Jesus wants us to have fellowship with him and his Father through the spirit that dwells in us. But beyond that, Jesus wants us to have fellowship with others as well. The removal of sin doesn't just a to approach God without shame. It also allows us to approach others without fear of judgment or rejection, knowing our identity is found in Christ and He has accepted us. This is what we see as Jesus cleanses the leper after he's healed Jesus tells Jolachim to go to the temple and make an offering required by Moses, to show himself to the priest to prove that he's been made well. The result of this would have been a reintegration back into society. Jesus wanted this man to be back where he belonged with others. The body of Christ is made up of the same type of people, sinners saved by grace. Jesus embraces all of us individually and collectively, and wants us to be in community and accepted by one another, knowing we have only been made clean because of Jesus's healing power over us. It's not because some of us are more morally superior than others, or some of us have been at it longer than others so we get a higher status. All of Jesus's miracles are wonderful reminders of his goodness, but his cleansing of the leper should hold a significant place in our heart. Hearts in the clear representation of what Jesus wants to do with our sins. As he takes away the decay of Joachim's disease. We can take heart in knowing that Jesus takes away the decay of sin. Just as this man is able to enter back into society. We should be comforted in knowing that Jesus wants us to know the joy of true fellowship with others. And as Jesus stares in the face of death and reverses its power, we can rejoice knowing that Jesus face death on the crost to when do the hold it had over us. Jesus's greatest miracle ever performed was the miracle of rising from the grave and leaving death behind. If we would just lay down our lives at the feet of Jesus, we can have hope that he gives us new life, eternal life, life more abundant. And it's my prayer for you today that you would live life abundantly in the grace of Jesus, that you would live boldly for him, and that you would extend the same grace to others that God has extended to you. Thanks for joining us today. If you've been following this podcast for a while and still haven't left a review, I would like to personally ask that you do so. We read every single one and leaving a review does a few things. For us at the Prey dot Com team, one we get the encouragement of knowing that this is blessing people, and two we get the feedback of knowing what people like most about the podcast. That way, we can continue to make podcasts that people are enjoying and is really resonating with people. Thanks for participating in this community. We're grateful from the bottom of our hearts.