When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:1–4
Before a cure was developed in the mid-20th century, many were permanently disabled by leprosy. Because of its contagious nature, lepers were often ostracized to avoid epidemic (Leviticus 13:45–46). When the Israelites left Egypt, they were particularly susceptible to the plague, which tended to thrive in dense populations in which the community shared a common water supply. It may have been for this reason that God gave Israel such specific laws concerning the disease and its containment.
To the priests (the first line of defense against the threat) God gave detailed diagnostic tools along with instructions on what to do with diseased persons, garments, and houses. Those infected were forced to leave their homes to live in solitude and were required to announce their plague to any unsuspecting passerby (13:45–46). Leprosy not only disabled these people; it destroyed their lives! Thankfully, God also gave instructions for the cleansing of the fortunate few who were blessed to recover from this infirmity. Before returning to his home and former station in life, however, a recovered leper must first be purified through a ritual outlined by God (14:1–32). Elements in the process included cedar wood, scarlet, hyssop, two birds––one slain and one living––running water, and an earthen vessel (14:5–6). What a glorious spectacle this ceremony must have been, not only to the recovered leper, but also to his family to which he would be reunited, almost as one risen from the dead!
Although leprosy has been nearly eliminated in the modern world, there is another plague that is silently killing billions. In fact, very credible reports indicate that every accountable human being on the planet has been infected (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6). The bad news is that this disease is fatal if left untreated (Romans 6:23), and worse news is the fact that most will refuse treatment (Matthew 7:14) until it is too late. On the other hand, the good news is that a cure is available in ample supply, and, better news still, it is free to all who are willing to receive it (Romans 5:15–16). The cure for the plague of sin was made available at Calvary in the wood (the cross), in the hyssop on which vinegar was offered to quench the thirst of the dying Savior (John 19:29), in the scarlet robe worn for the amusement of the murderers (Matthew 27:28) of the Man who was slain and yet lives (Revelation 1:18), in the blood and water that flowed freely together from His pierced side (John 19:34), and in the earthen vessel which the Father gave Him to offer (Hebrews 10:5).
Our cleansing also requires something of us, as even the lepers cleansed by Jesus had to offer the gift commanded by Moses (Matthew 8:4; Luke 17:14). Although his plague was gone, the leper could not return home until he was cleansed. How foolish a man would be to refuse to take back his place in society because he would not be purified according to God’s pattern! And yet when God requires the sinner to repent of sin (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized (Romans 6:3), there are many who simply refuse His offer for cleansing. Like the Samaritan whom Jesus restored to health, your faith can make you whole (Luke 17:19), but you must offer the gift that God requires––a life of faithful service to Him (Romans 12:1–2)!