In our recent sermon, Ministering to All, we see Jesus being approached by this man with leprosy. Leprosy was a death sentence in ancient times. It was any of a variety of skin diseases that infected the entire body and caused the sufferer to die a very slow and painful death. Leprosy ate away at your body. Those with leprosy had to disengage from society and live a life of solitude. They were ritually unclean and their leprosy was communicable. Because of this, the leper was not allowed to come in contact with any member of society.

This is the condition of the man above. In his audaciousness, he comes into town. He approaches the crowd and works his way toward Jesus. These things were strictly forbidden! His actions were scandalous. He kneels in submission. With all sincerity and yearning he makes his request. “If you will, you can make me clean.” What great faith! Where did it come from? Someone must have shared Christ with this man. Faith, after all, comes by hearing. He comes and knows that it is the Lord’s prerogative to heal. “If you will…”

What is the Master’s reply? Before he grants the healing, our Master does something equally as scandalous. He, filled with pity, reaches out to the man that is not supposed to come into contact with any. The collective gasp from the crowd must have been deafening. Would you have touched him? Would you have allowed him to pass through the crowd without fearing for your own safety? Christ touches this leprous man. He makes contact with him. How long had it been since he had felt the touch of another human being? Christ touches him, as he touched me in the leprosy of my sin. He lets him know that he takes him as he is, leprosy and all.

Christ might take him as he is, but he does not leave him as he is. He states quite simply that he is willing to heal him and he does. He gives this man new skin. He heals him. Is this not what Christ has done for us? Did Christ not take us as we were and then cleanse us from our leprosy? Is this not the pity of Christ demonstrated for all sinners? Should we not minister to all as he did? Should not the pity of Christ compel us to reach out and touch the lepers of this world? Amen brother! Amen sister! May all those that have been touched by Christ’s pity demonstrate the same pity for others.