Leviticus 13 The Lord spoke to Aaron and Moses about leprosy. This terrible disease was a "defiling skin disease". The great detail that the Lord taught Moses and Aaron to look for.. and what to do about it.. shows just how serious this was. The priests were given the responsibility to diagnose the disease and to determine what must happen with the person who was suffering with it. Instructions were also given for when a spot.. either of mold or mildew.. was found in any kind of garment. It was a dreaded.. costly.. and life-altering disease.
This is one of those hard sections to read.. we can't really relate to this disease in our daily lives. Except, maybe we do.. if we are troubled by eczema or even skin cancer. Still, we don't go to our pastor and we aren't proclaimed "clean" or "unclean" when we do have some kind of issue. We aren't commanded to walk around saying "Unclean, unclean!" or told to live in isolation.. away from the community.
So, what is it that we need to learn here? What is our Shepherd saying?
All that we have read so far in the book of Leviticus has pointed to Jesus.. and I am led to look at how Jesus handled this disease. In Matthew 8.. as Jesus concluded His great sermon.. "a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying. 'I am willing; be cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." Jesus then instructed the man to go show himself to the priest "and present the offering that Moses commanded for a testimony to them." (v4) How great is the compassion and kindness of our Lord and Savior.
Luke tells us another story about Jesus healing.. this time 10... lepers. He heard them crying out to Him from a distance.. " Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And He did. He did not draw near to them or touch them, but told them to go show themselves to the priests. "And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed." Only one of the ten turned around to praise God.. Jesus said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God except this foreigner? And He said, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." ( Luke 17:11-19)
In both of these cases, Jesus showed His mercy and compassion.. and in both cases those healed were told to follow the Law of Moses as we read in Leviticus. In both cases the men who were healed would give a testimony about what God had done.
Father in heaven, we are so thankful for a Savior who heals and cleanses us from all iniquity.. from every sinful spot that makes us unclean in Your sight. He is the Healer who touches more than our bodies.. but our hearts and souls as well. How we need to know.. without doubt.. that You are willing to make us clean! We give glory to You, our great God who does the impossible, the merciful, and the wonderful work of salvation and healing in us. Thank You Jesus! Praise to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.