Free from Leprosy/Free from Sin
Luke 5:12-16
1. The Leper’s Condition
12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy . . . Luke 5:12 (ESV)
Though the leper was not worse or guiltier than his fellow Jews, nevertheless he was a parable of sin—an "outward and visible sign of innermost spiritual corruption." R. C. Trench
5 Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. Isaiah 1:5-6 (ESV)
2. The Leper’s Request
12 . . . And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12 (ESV)
Here we see the first and fundamental qualification for coming to Jesus—an awareness of one's condition.
The leper knelt flat on his face before Christ in humble prostration. He was fully aware of his hopeless, leprous condition, and yet he believed Christ could heal him.
3. The Savior’s Touch
13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:13 (ESV)
Jesus wanted the leper to feel the Savior's willingness and sympathy.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. Luke 7:22 (ESV)
4. The Priest’s Ritual
14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
Luke 5:14 (ESV)
This word "charged" involves strong emotion, including anger. The word has the idea of "admonish or to urgently rebuke."
5. The Savior’s Prayerfulness
15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16 (ESV)
The word "withdraw" is in the imperfect tense which means He frequently or continually did this in His daily life.