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First Leper to Be Cleansed by Christ
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Thus it is with the leprosy of sin—deadly, impossible to be
cleansed by human power. “From the sole of the foot even unto
the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and
putrefying sores.”
Isaiah 1:6
. But Jesus has healing virtue. Whoever
will fall at His feet, saying in faith, “Lord, if You will, You can make
me clean,” shall hear the answer, “I will; be clean.” RSV.
In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the
blessing sought. In the case of the leper, no sooner was the appeal
made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the
answer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than
we ask. But not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His
will to cleanse us, make us His children, and enable us to live a holy
life. Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from
this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”
Galatians 1:4
. “If we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that
we have obtained the requests made of Him.”
1 John 5:14, 15
, RSV.
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In the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum, Christ again taught
the same truth. To manifest His power to forgive sins, the miracle
was performed. Like the leper, this paralytic had lost all hope.
His disease was the result of a life of sin, and his sufferings were
embittered by remorse. He had appealed to the Pharisees and doctors,
but they coldly pronounced him incurable and abandoned him to the
wrath of God.
Seeing no prospect of aid from any quarter, the palsied man had
sunk into despair. Then he heard of Jesus. Friends encouraged him
to believe that he too might be cured if he could be carried to Jesus.
The Burden of Sin
It was not physical restoration he desired so much as relief from
the burden of sin. If he could receive the assurance of forgiveness
and peace with Heaven, he would be content to die. The dying man
had no time to lose. He besought his friends to carry him on his bed
to Jesus, and this they gladly undertook to do. But so dense was the
crowd where the Saviour was that it was impossible for the sick man
and his friends even to come within hearing of His voice.