Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
You know the old saying (based on an old Hebrew proverb) and preached by John Wesley, among others. Can one so dirty in sin or lifestyle approach God?
We are all sinners and none is clean enough without the Living Water.
You and I may be able to think of untouchables as sub-human or those so far removed from our daily experience that in an abhorrent way, we become callous to reaching out to these souls with the healing they covet. In ancient times no description more defined the unwanted of society than ‘leper.’
Leprosy is contagious and one of several ‘unclean’ conditions. The Law of Moses gives priests considerable guidance in how to deal with lepers. Lepers were removed from society for the guarding of the community from disease.
Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead.
The Gospels are Good News for the unclean, not just those who a priest makes ritually pure.
Imagine that you are not accepted by anyone in society, let alone a leading Rabbi – a teacher of the Law and Prophets who actually is known to perform miracles. Would you be so bold as to come up to Him and interrupt Him?
How will Jesus react?
Matthew 8:1-4
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
How the man’s life must have been changed from that moment he was healed by Jesus! Yet Jesus instructs the leper to say nothing and do as the Law prescribes: go to the priest and be declared clean.
An unclean group of lepers also interrupted the journeys of Jesus at another time.
Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
Of course these men lived and begged outside the village. They were unclean and village citizens would not risk becoming one of these unclean lepers.
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
How interesting that Jesus commands the ten lepers to show themselves to the priests. Why would a man with leprosy show himself to a priest? Yet by their obedience these ten lepers discovered the cleansing of the very words of Christ Jesus.
And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.
- Have you received any grace of healing?
- Have you received any miracle in your life?
- Is your very health not a miracle from God?
- Has Jesus Christ cleansed you of a sin which once devoured your flesh?
Where then is your gratitude to Christ, the Living Water of God Almighty, who has redeemed and cleansed your soul?
How like the nine lepers we are. How we take for granted the grace of God.
Now he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Where are you with your praise, dear brother, gentle sister in the Lord?
Dear Christian, will it take an unbeliever to praise Jesus for the same grace you have received?
19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.
Are we well in Christ Jesus while having neglected to return to our Lord with praise and thanksgiving?
And if you are an unclean sinner; believer or unbeliever, you are not too dirty for God.
Return to Jesus and let Him wash your sins away.
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