Have you ever felt ashamed, unworthy or dirty? Have you ever felt broken and unfixable? Do you know what hopelessness feels like? If so, you’ll be able to relate to the man in today’s story. In today’s text Jesus cleanses a leper. lepers were outcasts of society and had to live isolated away from other people so that no one could catch their dreaded disease. No one dares go near a leper for fear of contracting leprosy. Leprosy was infectious and terminal. The leprous man sought Jesus out believing that He was able to heal him. His question was, “Was Jesus willing to heal him”? We find that Jesus was not only willing but went the extra mile to, with a personal touch, show this man that He loved him and had compassion on him…

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So, He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” (Luke 5:12–16, NKJV)

Today we see the parallels between leprosy and sin. Like leprosy, sin is infectious and deadly. Jesus was willing to cleanse and deliver this man from his deadly malady. Jesus is also willing to cleanse and deliver all who come to Him from the deadly malady of sin.

 
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”” 

(John 6:37–40, NKJV)Pastor Mike