Jesus Touched Him

A man in advanced stages of leprosy.

And it happened when Jesus was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and begged 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.” And immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:12-13).

The Law of Moses declared lepers unclean and outcasts of Jewish society (Leviticus 13; Numbers 5:1-4). Those with leprosy could be put to death for going near someone without the disease.

The leprosy of Bible days described a variety of skin diseases, but especially one we today call Hansen’s Disease affecting millions across Africa and Asia. The M leprae bacteria passes by skin contact and bodily fluids, entering the body and attacking the nervous system. Ugly tumors develop on…