Jesus

September 15

Luke 5:12-16

Jesus touches a man’s life

While Jesus was in one of the towns, He met a man covered with a bad skin disease. When the man saw Jesus, he went down on his knees, and with his face to the ground begged Jesus to cure him. “If you are willing,” he said, “You can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched the man. “I am willing,” Jesus said. “Be clean!”

The leprosy immediately left him and his skin became pure and healthy again.

Although Jesus told him not to tell anyone about the healing, the news of what had happened spread all over. Many came to hear Jesus and be healed by Him.

Why did Jesus reach out and touch the diseased man?

Although being sick is never fun, what makes up for it in some way is the special care we get from those who look after us. But that’s not the way it was for this leper. Everyone avoided him, as they did all those with the deadly disease. No one looked after him. No one touched him or even came close to him for fear that they too would get sick.

It wasn’t his fault that he had leprosy, yet he suffered the pain of his dreadful illness, and the pain of being rejected.

The man desperately needed healing and wanted to be cured of his leprosy, but he also longed for a friend—someone who wouldn’t be afraid to reach out and touch him.

When Jesus heals, He doesn’t only get rid of the sickness, He becomes a friend. Jesus changes the lives of people by touching their hearts with His love. Jesus also heals the sickness of sin and makes our hearts so clean that not a single spot remains.

Verse for today 

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3