“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.”” Luke 5:12 ESV
Reflection: how can leprosy be an analogy for sin?
One aspect that is so amazing about studying the Bible is the layers of imagery, metaphors and analogies, to help us better understand God, ourselves, the kingdom of heaven, and the world we live in. It is full of “spiritual food” to satisfy our souls. And today is a great example of this. In Luke 5:12-16, are presented with a story, written in a total of 5 verses. And within these few verses, we can basically understand
the entire gospel message.
The story starts with introducing us to a man who was infected with leprosy, a contagious bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. If not treated, the person will among other symptoms lose feelings and function of limbs, get numb to other injuries and infection, which can even cause the loss of limbs. And at the time the story was written, there was no cure for leprosy. The people infected were therefore unclean, not able to participate in society. It was a death sentence.
This man was “full of leprosy”, meaning there were many visible signs of the disease. Most likely he has felt the effects of the disease for years, watching his body slowly deteriorate and die. So we can understand why he fell on his face and begged Jesus,
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
You have probably read the story before, and remember the few words of Jesus to this poor man, “And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:13 ESV.
Now we can clearly think of this story in the physical realm, of Jesus healing a very sick man. And that alone is beautiful, comforting to know of Jesus authority over all sickness. But the deeper story, if you simply replace the word “leprosy” with “sin”, you get the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The sinner, who realize sin is slowly taking their life away from them. They are in desperate need of being cleansed, to be rid of the sin which has damaged all aspects of their life. Then, hearing that there is someone who can cleanse them, who can give them a new life, free from this sin, they fall on their face and beg, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus responds to all sincere hearts,
“I will; be clean.”
The man is immediately healed. But notice what Jesus tells him next. “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.”” Luke 5:14 ESV. Why does Jesus insist on the man not telling anyone? Perhaps it is because the purity is before the Lord; not to be “bragged about” before man.
There is a lot to reflect on with this short story, and I highly recommend spending a few minutes reading it again. Perhaps to see the desperate desire this leper had for being clean. To look at our own desire to be pure before the Lord. Paul wrote “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
Let us pray with David “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 ESV