NASB
Lev 13:45
45 "As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!'
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behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
Luke 5:12 (NASB)
13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 5:13 (NASB)
And there he was, crying out as he neared Jesus, "Unclean! Unclean!" This leper. This unclean person. No one can touch him. (It was good that he was following the rules by yelling this so that everyone would know not to get near him.) Then, can you believe? He just falls on his face in front of Jesus, and with pure faith and humility asks Jesus for healing...if it is His will. He has come before the King of Kings, and he's yelling how unworthy he is to even be in his presence...can you hear it, "Unclean! Unclean!"? He wasn't considered worthy to be in anybody's presence. Can you see him...head covered, clothes torn... Yet, here he is, before the Alpha and Omega... And then, Jesus does the unthinkable... He reaches out His hand...and touches the man...who is COVERED with leprosy. And immediately, the man was healed.
I can't help but be blessed by this account. To realize that I, too, am a sinner...whose heart screams, "Unclean! Unclean!" in the presence of the Almighty... And yet, Jesus... He is my cover and my healer and the One who touched me, the same One who touched him... the leper so many years ago. Oh people, that we would realize what living and breathing is all about.
I was reminded of this passage recently, when I heard on the news about the "Tree Man" (google it). Due to warty tree-root-like growths on his body, no one had touched him for many years. When an American doctor simply touched him in human kindness, this 30-somthing year old man actually cried.
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