In the Old Testament, leprosy was considered as a divine punishment for hidden sins in man. The leprous man was, in order to avoid contagion, very properly separated from the congregation. The poor lepers lived as "walking tombs", and their relatives, ashamedly and cautiously, looked after them. A leper was to cry, "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn all not to defile themselves by approaching him.
One of the lepers, who had heard about Christ’s wonderful power, came cautiously near Jesus, and immediately the multitudes moved away angrily from him, getting ready to drive him away. But he fell down before Jesus, knowing that no man could help him, for he was in an advanced stage of leprosy and some members of his body had fallen off.
The leper openly confessed his faith in Jesus, as the Almighty who has complete power over everything, even leprosy. Do you believe in the power of Christ in your life? The leper was uncertain that the Holy One of God would help him in spite of his sins that were apparent through his leprosy. He asked Jesus with lowliness if he would accept to heal him, putting all his hope and strong longing in this plea; and Christ gave him a divine answer: he embraced him –according to the original Greek text-without being afraid of infection and slow dead, for he was the Prince of Life, who embraced all the corrupt mankind through his incarnation. The poor leper realized that Christ entered him into the love of God. Do you come to Jesus with your hardships, and confess openly? He does not reject you because of your sins, but embraces you and surrounds you with all his love.
Then the Son of God testified of the mystery of his saving will, saying, " I will save you. I will heal you. I will make you clean." If you ask yourself, "Will God help and save me?" Christ will answer you, "I will." Do you believe in his answer? We are all living in the age of grace. Enter into the pleasure of God and wish what he wishes so that you may receive the fullness of his power. The Lord does not mean first to improve your financial position, or your professional interests. His goal is your wicked heart. When you completely submit to the hands of Jesus, he will also help you in your healthy matters, school problems, and professional developments, for the main stream of the will of God is love, blessing, strengthening, and social reviving.
Jesus commanded the leper to recover, and urged him to become active by a strong will. By his word he gave him the power to get well. The Creator’s command broke the authority of the disease, and loosed the chains of sin in the innermost depth of the patient. The love of Christ overcame all the troubles in this poor man who committed himself into the hands of Jesus. Now a divine current flew into his members and skin. They grew up once again, and the leprosy fell as scabs from his skin. Not gradually, but immediately, once and forever the outcast who was rejected from society became healthy and sound.
Jesus sent the cleansed man to the priests according to the law, to bring an offer in the temple (Leviticus 13:49; 14:10), also in order that those mediators between God and the people of the covenant should officially confirm that Christ is the divine Physician who released people from incurable diseases.
The multitudes felt the presence of the divine messenger who delivered them from the chains and consequences of sin, so they gathered, and heard the gospel. They drank out of the fullness of Christ, and felt that the kingdom of God had begun. Sin and its consequences faded away through Christ and his power.
Observe that the more Jesus did miracles, the more he prayed, making himself of no reputation, and delivering all glory to his Father. He was not isolated, but prayed constantly, for his faith was but a prayer. He did nothing apart from God. Every movement of his hand and every word he said were in harmony with the Spirit of his Father. Do you pray and speak to your heavenly Father about all the concerns of your life? You can do nothing without him. As he abides in you and you in him, you bear much fruit.