Leprosy was a dreadful, flesh-destroying affliction. It was a terrifying disease in Jesus’ day because there was no known cure. Leviticus 13:45-46 states a person was excluded from the normal life of the community. "Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp”.
The only way the people knew to contain the spread of it was to quarantine the person with other lepers— separating them from the rest of society. The leper went to live in a community with other lepers until he either got better or died. There was only one way to integrate back into society - the priest had the authority to pronounce you clean. This man reaches out to Jesus knowing that He is the only hope.
Love, mercy and compassion were understood by Jesus to overpower uncleanness rather than the converse. Jesus could have cured the man by his words alone, but he went the extra step and reached out to touch him.
Jesus was willing to risk being “unclean” by making this man clean. Jesus not only crossed the barrier of ritual; but He rose above the law to offer compassion; above judgment to offer love. Jesus loves this sinner even while he is in the act of sinning!"We may not be able to heal like Jesus, but if we are willing, we can certainly love like Jesus. We may not have the power to heal each other physically but we do have the power to declare each other clean, touchable, worthy, human." We are the body of Christ, the hands and feet of Jesus to the world. Are we willing to break down the boundaries, risk our reputation - perhaps even break a few rules?
