Lepers: Living Zombies! Pt. 2

Jesus Cleanses a Leper Luke 5:12-16

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

I left off in the last post at verse 14. Jesus told the cleansed man to tell no one. The most miraculous thing happened to this guy and he wasn't supposed to say a single word about it! This guy had just been freed from physical torment and pain. He had just been given a new lease on life. He was to remain silent and go straight to the priest and make an offering for his cleansed state. I know when Jesus came into my life I wanted to tell everyone and I still do. No words could have compared to what the crowd had already seen. The leper had staggered through the city crying out his warning to those in his way. His skin had been pouring out blood and disease as he crept along, but now all of this was gone. There were no open sores with dust-caked blood covering the rags he wore for clothes. The man could walk in perfect stride, free of pain. Those in attendance to this miracle would have been awestruck with silence and wonder. The first murmurs through the crowd of what they had just witnessed would have grown to a riotous proportion. The word would have traveled fast and made it to the priest even before the man arrived to give an offering of proof.

Verse 15 tells us that the news of his teachings, and more so his miracles, were reaching across the region giving him more momentum to spread his message to everyone who wanted to hear it. His message preceded him wherever he went, the facts were mixed with fiction, but he was still gathering large crowds who wanted to see it for themselves. To be able to make their own judgements on this simple man named Jesus and the wonders he was performing. Verse 16 shows us Jesus, no matter how busy he was healing and preaching, he still took time to rest and pray. Jesus needed rest, just like us. It is important for us to take time to refresh and recharge ourselves. The large crowds who had gathered wanted to see the miracles and hear the teachings of Jesus. They all wanted to be in his presence, but he knew they would wait for what they truly wanted.