Unclean

Saturday, December 20th, 2025

7:58 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-16. In these sections Jesus meets a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man approaches Jesus, he kneels down to the ground, and asks Jesus, "Lord if You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean." Jesus reaches out to the man and tells him, "I am willing. Be healed!" Instantly the man was healed. Jesus told the man to not tell anyone about what happened, but to go straight to the priest and allow the priest to examine him. And for him to also take with him the special offering as ordered by the Law of Moses for some one who had been healed of leprosy (Leviticus 14). Mark and Luke added that the man did not go quietly, but told everyone what had happened. They also add that after that large crowds began to surround Jesus. Mark tells us that so many people were coming to Jesus that He could not go anywhere publicly, but had to stay out in secluded places. Luke then tells us that Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Leprosy, back in those days, caused a person to be cast out of society away from people because they were unclean, and contact with an unclean person made the other person unclean as well. But Jesus did not live by society standards. Jesus did not care about the disease, Jesus saw the man for whom he was, not the disease. He reached out unafraid of what others thought. He reached out to help the man that had so much faith in Jesus, that he knew Jesus could heal him completely if He was willing. And Jesus was willing.

Jesus wants to cleanse us. The notes in my Bible compare our sin to leprosy. We are made unclean and not worthy because of the sin in our lives, and unfortunately our sins can be contagious, as in, they can cause other people to sin as well. And because of that sin in our lives, we too can be cast out of society, people ashamed of what we are doing or have done. And many times we cast ourselves out because we are ashamed of ourselves, and feel like we are not worthy to be around certain people. Our sins also cause us to be unworthy of spending eternity in heaven. But here is the amazing thing, none of us are worthy on our own. We need Jesus to help us. We need Jesus to cleanse us of our sins so we can live for eternity with Him in heaven. It is through Jesus that we are made worthy. Its not society's standards. Its not even our own standards. But it is Jesus. Jesus is not ashamed of us. Jesus is not scared to touch us, and reach into the deepest and darkest areas of our lives. But if you want that. If you want Jesus to help you, like this man with leprosy, you have to personally ask Him for help. No one can do it for you. You have to make that choice for yourself. Then be obedient in whatever He tells you to do. When you honestly, and truly seek Him with your whole heart He will help you and guide you.

Have you asked God to cleanse you? We are all unclean because of sin. But Jesus can cleanse you and make you whole, just like He cleansed the leper and made him whole. He can do the same for you. Don't be afraid to ask Him.