I. THE UNCLEAN MAN
1. He was a "leper" (v.2a). The term leprosy in Scriptures (from Greek lepra; cp. Hebrew sara'at) covers a wide variety of disfiguring skin conditions described in Leviticus 13:1-46, associated with "a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and ... a leprous sore" (v.2). Some were benign, including (probably): psoriasis and vitiligo (vv.12f,38f); furuncle, carbuncle, ulcer (vv.24-28); ringworm (vv.29-37). We here observe more serious forms, including elephantiasis and clinical leprosy, Hansen's Disease, which were especially dreaded. i. It was often a visitation from God due to sin, as in Miriam (e.g. Numbers 12:1-10), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27), Azariah/Uzziah (2 Kings 15:1-5 / 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). ii. It rendered the afflicted ceremonially "unclean," and therefore required to reside "outside the camp," deprived of social and religious privileges (Leviticus 13:45f). iii. It became progressively worse and worse: "The 'scab' comes on by degrees in different parts of the body; the hair falls from the head and eyebrows; the nails loosen, decay, and drop off; joint after joint of the fingers and toes shrink up and slowly fall away. The gums are absorbed, and the teeth disappear. The nose, the eyes, the tongue, and the palate are slowly consumed" (Davis Dictionary of the Bible). iv. It required a visitation from God for healing (Numbers 12:11-15; 2 Kings 5:7; Deuteronomy 32:39). Upon being healed, the leper was declared "clean" by the priest, offered a sacrifice to God, and received back into society (Leviticus 14:1-32).
2. He "came" to Jesus (v.2b). He desired to be restored, knew he could not restore himself, and approached the only one who could restore him. He evidently recognized Jesus as possessing the power of God (see John 3:2).
3. He "worshipped" Jesus (v.2c). He even "fell on his face" before Jesus (Luke 5:12). His "worship" was evidently more than a mere showing of respect.
4. He acknowledged the sovereignty of Jesus (v.2d): "saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." i. He acknowledged Jesus as "Lord" in a manner of adoration suggesting he recognized Jesus' deity. ii. He acknowledged that he had no hope of cleansing unless Jesus was "willing." He therefore threw himself upon the sovereign mercy of Jesus Christ.
5. He desired to be "clean" (v.2d). He desired to be not merely healed, but cleansed, thereby restored to social and religious privileges in accordance with the law of God.
1. Jesus touched him (v.3a): "Jesus put out His hand and touched him." i. Here is the result of Jesus being "moved with compassion" (Mark 1:41). His heart had been touched with this leper's plea; His hand responded by touching the leper. ii. Here is a proof of Jesus' humiliation (Philippians 2:6f). As God in the fullness of His glory, He is unapproachable by even the purest (Job 9:30f; 15:15). But as man in the depths of His humiliation, He deigns to touch even the most unclean!
2. Jesus willed to heed him (v.3b): "saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'" Jesus never spurned sincere cries for mercy! He who mercifully heeds the cry of young ravens (Psalm 147:9) will surely mercifully heed the cry of those made in His image.
3. Jesus cleansed him (v.3b): "And immediately his leprosy was cleansed"
(v.3c). The leper's restoration was both immediate and complete.
4. Jesus instructed him (v.4). i. "See that you tell no one" (cp. 9:30;
12:16). Why not? To prevent this man's temptation to self-importance?
To prevent the priests who must render a verdict concerning this man's
cleansing, and who had probably already been prejudiced against Jesus,
from being prejudiced against this man also? To prevent Jesus from
being thronged with multitudes who desired only to see miracles? All the
above? ii. "but go to your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the
gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them" (in compliance with
Leviticus 14:1-32). Jesus never acted or advised contrary to the law of
God, but rather obeyed even its every "jot and tittle" (Matthew 5:17f).
1. We all are by nature spiritual lepers. Leprosy as a physical malady aptly typifies the sinful nature, the spiritual malady.
i. We are afflicted with the worst of maladies. 1) The sinful nature is a visitation from God due to the first sin (Romans 5:12,18a,19a). 2) The sinner is "unclean" and therefore forced from God's presence and deprived of His society and privileges (e.g. Genesis 3:23f). 3) The sinner's condition progressively adversely affects every part of his being (Romans 3:13-15; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 1:6) even to the point of death (Ezekiel 18:4). 4) The healing and cleansing of a sinner is an act performed by God alone (Jonah 2:9). If we desire its cure:
ii. We must come to Jesus Christ alone. No salvation will be found in going to Mount Sinai (i.e. keeping the law), baptismal waters, the church, nor elsewhere.
iii. We must worship Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ will save none who would trust in Him as the Savior of their souls but not submit to Him as the Lord of their lives.
iv. We must acknowledge the sovereignty of Jesus Christ in salvation. We must deny that our salvation is obtained through our own (supposed) free will, and confess that it is received through an act of His own sovereign will (John 1:12f). We must throw ourselves on the sovereign mercy of Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus Christ is the cleansing Savior. He is as much a cleanser of leprous souls as He is of leprous bodies.
i. He will touch us. Here is good news for even the "chief" of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). None is untouchable to Jesus Christ except those who refuse His touch.
ii. He wills to heed us. As He willed to heed all who implored physical healing, even so does He will to heed all who implore spiritual healing (John 14:13): "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do ...."
iii. He cleanses us – immediately and completely when we believe. Believers therefore acknowledge Jesus Christ as "Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1:5). And they are acknowledged as "the ones who ... washed their robes and made them clean in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).
iv. He instructs us. 1) As He has fulfilled the law, we who are cleansed are not subject to it (e.g. Leviticus 14:1-32), but rather commanded to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).
2) As He has been glorified, we who are cleansed are not commanded to "See that you tell no one," being instead commissioned to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).