Background:
I asked myself what the stigma of leprosy would have done to a person!
This man had leprosy. Leprosy made someone an untouchable and an outcast from society. This man would have been wounded physically from his disease, scarred emotionally from the ridicule and shunning, felt as an outcast relationally, etc because everyone saw him as unclean. He would have had such a terrible time because his disease was contagious! Also, because people feared coming near anyone with leprosy, as they feared getting it, they created Leper's colonies making lepers feel untouchable. The movie 'Ben Hur' portrays an example and also shows the redemptive side.

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what did the man do?
The man could have easily been conditioned to accept his defeat in life living as a person who is not seen as clean the rest of his life but he did not. One day he found out about someone who loves others so much and who performs miracles. He took an active step hoping to receive help even with all the fears he may have stored up inside because of his experiences. With that courage,

1. He came to Jesus with the disease that made him feel like an outcast. (Skin falling off and blisters everywhere)

2. He fell on his knees and begged Jesus, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself why the leper used the words, ‘If you are willing’!
This tells me that there were many people who were not even willing to be near him. We can infer that he was not sure if Jesus was going to have anything to do with him especially from the experiences he may have had. Yet he takes the daring step and says, "If you are willing, you can make me clean"

Observations:
I asked myself what were Jesus’ reactions towards the leper and the significance of each reaction?

1. Jesus was filled with compassion.
2. Jesus reached out his hand.
3. Jesus touched the man.
4. Jesus said, "I am willing"
5. Jesus said, "Be clean"

Point 1: Jesus was filled with compassion.
It is important to remember if Jesus had not left Simon and Andrew's place with his disciples after spending time in prayer, the man would not have had an encounter with Jesus. Jesus already knew there was a leper who needed His help.

Jesus showed his compassion to the man who was sick and who wanted to be clean. Jesus did not shun him but goes a step further and exhibits His compassion by the next action He takes which is evident by point 2.

Point 2: Jesus reaches out his hand.
Picture the person with leprosy whose skin was filled with spots and was falling off. Now picture it being a contagious disease that is spread by touch. No one would even come close to him but now Jesus reached out His hand. This is so significant to me because by reaching out His hand, Jesus started the process of healing the man emotionally and psychologically. For the man's emotional and psychological wounds from leprosy were very deep. He basically had lost the loving touch of a family member, a friend, etc. Now Jesus comes and reaches out His hand to the man. Whoa! People watching would know and realize that Jesus was reaching out His hand to an unclean person and yet Jesus does that to show His love and make the point that He alone can take anything unclean and make it clean.  Jesus did not stop there by reaching out His hand but goes a step further which is evident by point 3.

Point 3: Jesus touched the man.
I believe when Jesus touched the man, at that point the man was healed spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally by the loving Hands of Jesus. Imagine how that would have made you feel if no one touched you because of your sickness and now Jesus touches you with His warmth of love. By touching the man in his sickness and disease, Jesus was letting him know that he is loved unconditionally no matter how unclean he has been. The man is loved with all his scars, with all his wounds, with all his puss, with all his shame, with all his sin. Jesus is letting the man feel and know that he is valued as a person regardless of his disease. Wow! That is awesome to know! Jesus does not stop there after touching the man but gives him words he wanted to hear. This is evident by point 4.

Point 4: Jesus said, "I am willing"
These are the words the man wanted to hear from Jesus and must have been ecstatic to hear them. Lepers were usually confined to a lepers colony and could not do a lot of things that healthy people were able to do including making a financial living. Now he knew he could be part of the community again because Jesus would help him become part of the community that he lost because of feeling unclean. This is evident by point 5.

Point 5: Jesus said, "Be clean!"
Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured!!! Praise God! Amen! He was instantly healed spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally from the trauma he faced after a personal encounter with Jesus.

Jesus became the LORD OF THE PAST for that man and helped him move forward. The wounds of yesterday were taken by Jesus and Jesus brought healing because Jesus can do anything. Thank you Jesus! There is a wonderful song by Bob Bennett called 'Lord of the Past' you can find on YouTube.

Implications:
I asked myself why is the man's actions significant and it's implications for my own life?
The man with leprosy did not let his unclean situation come in the way of receiving healing in the present and moving forward. It could have been easy for the man to have remained in his yuckiness and allowed his negative experiences and thinking to rule his life and given up but he did not. Instead, he took a risk and it paid off.

It is exciting to know what Jesus did for the leper He can do for us too when we have a personal encounter with Him. He waits for us to come to Him to clean us from every situation we caused ourselves to be in! Yes, He does! I don't know His timings but I know He loves us and wants the best for us!

I ask you now dear friend, where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N in life?
Dear friend, I don't know what you are going through but this I know that Jesus loves you so much and wants to clean you too in the areas you have messed up. No matter what your past looks like, 'He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters' can make a way in the desert areas of your life and streams in areas you see as a wasteland.' Yes, He can friend! Jesus healed the wounds of the leper and delivered him. Jesus is working in my life and can do the same for you.

Ask the Lord to clean you in areas you know that you need Him to reach out to you, touch you, and be willing to clean you. I have done that and so can you. Whatever area you or I need the Lord to clean us, the root cause is sin. It is that sin that makes us unclean and be seen as a spiritual leper.

 I remember a time more than a decade ago when I was a campus minister and wanted to do things my own way thinking I knew what was best.  In the process, for my own good, I was fired from the ministry. I felt so much shame to be let go from doing God's work. I cannot explain in words the shame I felt. Even that shame was a result of pride of what other people would think of me and how I messed up. I praise the Lord that He did not leave me in my shame forever. Years later, he brought Pastor Hugo Cheng into my life to help begin the process of healing and moving on where I could do ministry again. Now, with the help of Pastor Josh and the leadership team, my precious wife Chandraleela and I do a ministry together that Pastor Hugo encouraged us to start. Jesus is the One who wants to clean us and give us new beginnings. Thank you Jesus.

The Lord Jesus will not abandon us when we come to Him in our shortcoming, shame, bondage, etc. Instead, with compassion unlike any you have seen, with commitment to restore you, He will reach out His hand, touch you, and heal you. No matter what you have done or where you have been. Yes, He will friend! Come as you are and receiving healing in your life.

Bring all your pain, guilt, suffering, shortcomings, stigmas before the CROSS OF CHRIST. Let His blood heal you where you are.

A wonderful song by Carman called 'This Blood' is so powerful. I hope you get to hear it on YouTube.

Jesus who had COMPASSION on the leper, will also have compassion on you! Jesus who TOUCHED the man to bring restoration in his life, will bring restoration to your life. Jesus who said to the leper, 'I AM WILLING' will say to you 'I AM WILLING' if you are willing to come before Jesus in your pain, suffering, torment, etc as the leper did. Then, as Jesus' touch and words healed the leper and cured him, Jesus can cure you too.

Yes, He can friend, Oh yes He can! Come as you are and find grace in time of need! Jesus wants to heal us of all our shortcomings, scars, shame, etc. Yes, He does friend. We can be made clean because of His wounds and stripes taken for us. Thank you Jesus! 

Friend, you are loved so much and Jesus can redeem wherever you have messed up. His way will be the best way. Come to Jesus as you are knowing He loves you so much and has a plan for your life. You can be clean no matter what you have done! You are never out of His love and never out of His reach. That is amazing to know!  Everytime I mess up, I can go to the Lord in prayer and so can you!

The leper was seen as untouchable and unclean because of his leprosy. We all have a type of leprosy that is contagious and separates us from being in a community of Heaven because we become untouchable no matter who we are whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, male or female, whatever our ethnicity, etc because this spiritual leprosy is a  deadly virus that is more than a pandemic that started in the past. It has invaded all of humanity making us so unclean.  This virus has trapped us and is driven by Satan himself.  This spiritual leprosy is called sin. This sin started in the past and all the problems we face is because of the sin of the past which continues to affect humanity.

Now, friend all humanity is an outcast before the Lord because of this deadly virus. You see friend because of sin, we have been an outcast to God because God in His Holiness cannot allow sin to enter into His presence of Heaven. So, God became the Initiator to save us from this bondage of the past since we cannot save ourselves from this sin. As Jesus went to save the leper from his condition, God also sent Jesus to save humanity from its condition of sin.

Jesus Christ went to the cross, shed His precious cleansing blood by dying on the cross for our sin, was buried, and came back to life on the third day to save. Now friend, we have an antidote to clean us of this deadly virus known as sin. The antidote is the precious cleansing blood of Jesus that can wash away all our sin. Jesus will set you free.

Jesus said, "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free! (John 8)"

Jesus also said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through me! (John 14:6, TLB)"

However friend, Jesus won't force us to take His antidote just as Jesus did not force the leper to come to Him. The leper chose to come to Jesus in His un-cleanliness and Jesus took care of the rest.  Jesus wants to do the same for us.  Jesus wants to rescue you from your sins by grace through faith and not of any good works that we can boast. Yes, He does! So, come as you are and find help in time of need. It is very important to remember that Jesus chose the leper first before the leper chose Jesus. That is why Jesus left Andrew and Peter's hometown to come where the leper was to bring healing. Jesus wants to heal you too.

Al Denson has an awesome song called, "Never Out of His Love, Never Out of His Reach"

May you receive healing in the Arms of our loving Lord and Savior now and forever knowing Christ's love enters always nurturing. 

"Christ's Love Enters Always Nurturing! (C.L.E.A.N)/"Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N in life?"

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you know the areas where I have experienced extreme shame because of my actions and my thought processes. I have felt so unclean because of my actions but I thank you so much Jesus that you have not abandoned me to my fate. Instead, when I turn to you in faith, you are there to rescue me. You reach out your hand of compassion and touch my life with your love bringing healing and restoration to me your way, in your timing. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you that we belong to you and can live for you and serve you. No matter how much we mess up, we are never out of your love and out of your reach. I pray for those who need your loving touch. Oh Lord, you know their scars and wounds. Sometimes the feeling of being unclean is a result of others sinful actions in our lives and other times by our own sinful actions. Either way, we need your help to move on. So, please Lord help us. Most of all, we are all invaded by this deadliest virus known as sin that is the root cause of uncleanliness. Help us Oh Lord God of our Salvation. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive myself and others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. Amen!!!

"May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)