Luke 5:12-16

12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; …

The actual Greek here says that the man was full of leprosy. This means he was in the advanced stages of the disease. Just for a little historical and context perspective, here are a few points about leprosy.

In Bible times, leprosy was an incurable disease, apart from divine intervention. The only way to be healed was for God to heal you. Today, it can be treated with 6 months to 2 years of drug therapy. It’s caused by a mycobacterium, and can be contracted through skin contact, sneezing or coughing. It’s actually very difficult to catch if you are healthy.

It’s a very slowly progressing disease, and begins with specks on the eyes and palms or small red rashes on the skin that have no feeling. It actually eats away at the tissues, bones, and bone marrow, and finally at the organs themselves.

In advanced stages, you have nerve destruction, deformities, and painful eye ulcers. In a word, YUK! If you really want to be grossed out, you should read in Leviticus 13 how they had to identify the disease.

Look what the Law had to say about lepers.

Leviticus 13:45-46

45 "As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, "Unclean! Unclean!'

46 "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

The leper had to wear clothes that showed he was mourning death – his own impending death! Everywhere he went, he had to shout out to everyone that he had the disease. He couldn’t come in to the city walls, because everything he touched was considered unclean. They were the most ostracized people in society.

The disease was only curable by God. Once the person was cleaned, he had to present himself to the high priest for a ritual cleansing, to be restored to fellowship.

Leviticus 14:1-3

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest,

3 and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, then the next few verses detail the ritual cleansing to follow.

Back in Luke 5…

Luke 5:12

12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

Jesus is teaching IN ONE OF THE CITIES. Lepers were not allowed inside a walled city! This man risks stoning and death to catch a glimpse of his Savior, knowing that Jesus could demonstrate His authority over disease by curing him.

Notice the leper never questions whether Jesus could heal him or not. He simply appeals to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. He has put all his hope and faith in Jesus Christ, and if Jesus fails him now, he will be in serious danger!

Well, of course, Jesus demonstrates His authority over sickness and His compassion again.

13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Jesus sent the former leper to the priests to fulfill the Law, and also to serve as a testimony to the priests that Jesus was God.

Sin is a lot like leprosy. Our sinfulness can never be cured, apart from divine intervention! But no matter how hopeless your situation may seem, be like this leper. There is never any question whether God can solve your problem or heal you.

Be confident that your Lord and Savior has all the authority and ability to do anything for you!