SPIRITUAL LEPROSY: FROM SHAME TO FAME

“I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It’s a journey of recovery. It’s a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It’s already there.” – Billy Corgan. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Lessons: Leviticus 13:40-46; Mark 1:40-46

As we reflect on Lent and Jesus’ resurrection – The term leprosy comes from the ‘Greek lepra’ through which the Greek physicians designed the disease from its Scaliness. Leprosy is literally regarded as “smiting” or “stroke;” a skin, flesh and nerve eating disease. It refers to a serious skin disorder that makes one unclean; includes wide range of skin disorder. It begins on the surface of the skin and then spread until it covers the whole body. From the skin, the disease eats inwards to the borne and destroys entire limbs and body piecemeal eventually results to death. This disease begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white scales and causing terrible sores and swellings. Leprosy is the inward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption. Leprosy as a type of sin signifies smiting because it was supposed to be a direct visitation of heaven or an awful punishment from the Lord – Miriam (Numbers 12:9); Naaman (2 Kings 5:7-12); Gehezi (2 Kings 20:27) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:1-26).

Spiritually, leprosy in Hebrew word is ‘tzara’at,’ related with word meaning trouble or affliction. In Torah, leprosy was used as a graphic sign that something was very wrong spiritually and calls for ‘teshuvah’, literally meaning return, an integral process in making lasting change, designed to help us get back into alignment with the Divine, first internally (thought and mind) and then eternally (through words and actions). Tzara’at (Leprosy) not only affect people but also garments and buildings too. For example: Leprosy afflicted Miriam and her body became white when she and Aaron spoke against the foreign wife – Kushite woman, Moses married (Numbers 12:1-12). “Biblically, leprosy refers to several skin diseases and even some kinds of fungus, such as those found in the walls of houses and in clothing. The leprosy that Christ healed was similar to what is today called Hansen’s disease, a detestable infection that can greatly disfigure and destroy the human body. Though not as contagious as scarlet fever, it can still be transmitted through an infected person’s secretions.”- Forerunner Commentary.

Dr. Richard H. Pousma, a missionary in Asia and a hospital superintendent in New Mexico, explains: Leprosy was greatly feared by the Israelites, not only because of the physical damage done by the disease, but also because of the strict isolation laws applying to leprosy, making patients feel like feared outcasts of society. . . . Leprosy [in the Bible] appears in two principle forms. The first, and by far the more dangerous, is called lepromatous; and the other, more benign type is designated tuberculoid. Both start with discoloration of a patch of skin. . . . In the lepromatous type of leprosy, the patch may spread widely in all directions…… Marked deformity of the hands and feet occur when the tissues between the bones deteriorate and disappear. . . . Untreated cases may be sick with lepromatous leprosy from ten to twenty years, death occurring from the disease itself. . . . The tuberculoid type is less severe. . . . [It] tends to be limited and even untreated cases heal completely in from one to three years.(The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, “Leprosy.”)

The root cause of Miriam’s punishment was evil tongue – evil speech or sort of gossip or slander against another (Proverbs 10:18). Evil speech (vs. 31-32) comes from lying lips; could be caused by envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, domination and lust as well as rebellion. Miriam and Aaron insulted Moses, God’s servant, it tantamount to insulting God. Invariably when we wrong people through words, whether in person or not, we ignore the fact that God loves and cares about them and they are apples of God’s eye. A healthy mind does not speak ill of others. In our free society, we often misconstrue freedom of speech into insults and stretch it into abuses. Protocol is ignored when we do not recognize, respect and honor people put on our ways. Many of us talk against our heads – dads, husbands, bosses and pastors, etc. Even if at their backs, it does not make it right. We often find people gossip and slander against other people (Proverbs 10:10, 20, 21; James 3). God is still calling us to repentance, to lead us out of the harmful acts causing spiritual leprosy – uncleanness.

WAYS LEPROSY MIGHT OCCUR/DEVELOP:

1. Without any apparent cause (Leviticus 13:2-8);
2. It’s reappearance (vs. 9-17)
3. Form from an inflammation  (Vs. 18-28)
4. On the head or chin (Vs. 29-37)
5. In white polished spots (vs. 38-39)
6. At the back or in front of the head (vs. 40-44)

TYPICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF DISEASE:

1. Hereditary
2. Contagious
3. Ever tending to increase
4. Incurable except by the power of God
5. A shame, reproach  and disgrace
6. Rendering one alone in the world (isolation)
7. Deforming, unclean and worthless
8. Separating the soul from God, thereby producing spiritual death
9. Signifies the profanation of truth
10. The Priest must pronounce him/her ceremonially unclean
11. Must tear their clothing and leave their head uncovered
12. Must cover their mouth, stand off a distance and shouting unclean, unclean
13. Live in isolation in a place outside the camp – Misfits and Outcast (Leviticus 13-44-46);
14. Like sin, starts as a small inflammation of the skin and grows into a devastating plague
15. It’s a loathsome disease and the infected person is miserable and stinky from the oozing of the flesh with relentless pain and constant discomforts as well as social rejects
16. Lepers were outcasts from their families and from society. Ultimately, they face a slow, painful and disgraceful death.

Significant of the leper coming to Christ:

1. He had a serious need: The Leper was covered with leprosy. He had no other means of care for the dreaded disease. His life and happiness were ruined forever. Jesus was his only hope – an amazing grace.
2. He showed faith in God: The new prophet in town had healing powers. Jesus fame had spread like wild fire. The leper must have heard about the Messiah and what He had done the day before – healing different types of diseases and casting away demons (Mark 1:32-34, 39). Again, he must have heard about Jesus and what His ministry was about (Luke 4:18ff). Faith comes from hearing….word of God. As believers we must witness and testify the fame and power of Jesus to forgive sins and heal sickness to every one such that lost sinners might hear and come to Him to be healed of their sins and sin-related illnesses.
3. Motivated to seek help in Jesus: He didn’t care what men thought or talked of him for coming to Jesus or what would be their reactions for carrying his worthlessness and plague to Him. He had suffered reproach and shame for years and was willing to suffer humiliation and rebukes of the people, just to get help and healing. Nothing the people would’ve done or said could detour or discourage him or make him change his mind about coming to Christ. The leper must have heard about the saving power of Jesus and was determined and convinced he will obtain his solution – nothing will hinder him (Isaiah 55:6-7)
4. Process: The leper came to Jesus and bowed down to worship Him. He humbly kneel down at His feet or fall prostrate on his face before Him (Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12). Worship showed respect and reverence for the Lord. He realized who Jesus was and took his rightful place – a filthy, stinking sinner before a Holy God or a sin-sick leper before the Great Physician. The leper made, implored and humble supplication, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He did not say I command or demand you to clean me. I have a right to be healed or Lord, you owe to heal my dreadful disease. The Lord Jesus owes lost sinner nothing!!! The Leper acknowledged Christ not only as a Savior but also as a healer and Lord. He trusted and accepted the will of Jesus as best for him. He pleaded the mercy of God; put his faith in Christ and His power – believe He is able to heal and cleanse his sins. Little wonder it was his day for deliverance and celebration, for evidence and settlement; his story to glory season.

The leper was determined to take his good-for-nothing life and dreaded sickness to Jesus. He walked to Jesus declaring his own uncleanness as he shouted “unclean! Unclean!!” He broke the cultural norm against isolation and non-contact with men and God. He believed that He that healed the lame and blind and cast out demons can also cleanse and heal him. Many of us suffering spiritual leprosy feel too unclean to trust His divinity and deity as well as His healing power. We appear too unclean to surrender our pollution to Jesus – as the Balm of Gilead. We need to wake up and walk shamelessly to Jesus and ask in humility for cleansing as well as healing. We must trust His willingness and decision to forgive and heal us.  Only Jesus can forgive sins and deliver us from terminal and incurable diseases. Sometimes, God uses the worst of conditions in life, at the bottom of our miry pit to reach out to us. “I’m in my anguished I cried to the Lord and He answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5).

Jesus gracious response was unbelievably compassionate and amazing. “And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him.” Jesus action was very emotional and empathetic. He showed undying love and compassion for the needy leper. Jesus showed His power as a merciful God upon a helpless beggar – the just for the unjust.  Jesus shared the leper’s plague as He put forward His hand and touched him. The leper’s plague could not be transferred to Jesus because He was incarnate son of God, holy and separated from sinners (John 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Again, it was not possible for Jesus to sin and could not be tainted with sin.

Jesus said, “I will, be thou clean.” The two words, “I will” expressed the very heart of grace. It could stand for “I am willing” “It is my Father’s wished and will” “For this reason I came” and “It will glorify my Father” as well as “Heaven will rejoice.” It could also be interpreted to mean, I will show mercy, I will forgive, I will cleanse sin and I will save sinners. Everyone that calls on God will be saved. It is in my character as God to save whosever come to me and believes he/she will be freed. This leper came and implored Jesus to save his soul and he received cleansing from his sin by putting faith in the finish work of His grace on the cross. Jesus captivated with mercy pronounced the leper clean. Jesus said, “I came to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).

“And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Jesus spoke the word, “Be thou clean.” And the leper was cleanse instantly from all his leprosy and sins (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus never fails and His word produce result. In Jesus, the leper found true freedom – from all disease and sickness as well as isolation.

Jesus gave stern command to the leper, “Don’t tell anybody about this. Instead go to the Priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering in the law of Moses for those who have been healed from leprosy.”  The healed leper, out of joy and overwhelming excitement for his cleaning and healing, failed short doing the command of Jesus. It’s not unusual that people cannot hold inside what Jesus has done in their lives. Saved sinners are prompted to tell others what Jesus has done. The leper went about testifying to his cleansing and healing. We too, must tell the world what the Lord Jesus has done, so they could come to Jesus as well.

JESUS SAVES!

We seem to lose touch of the concrete truth that the primary reason Jesus came into this world is to save His people from sins (Matt 1:21). This was the message an angel, Gabriel told Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Jesus also testify to this statement, “The son of man is come to seek and to save them that are lost” (Luke 19:10). Sin had eaten so much into humanity and we needed an external Divine intervention to come to our help and rescue. “Sin will present itself as pleasurable but just temporary, leaving a sting of sorrow, regret and death, if not purged. Sin is very attractive, dominating and incisive but the fatal attraction result to death” (Rom 6:23). Sin like leprosy comes into people on the flesh and eats deeper and deeper inwards into borne, destroys the limbs and spread over the whole body until it kills the sinner, if not redeemed.

If therefore one lives in sins, such a person needs to comes to Jesus and accept His saving grace. He/she cannot be saved except by a Savior (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the Savior that God availed us when we could not help ourselves, to redeem and deliver us from death prangs (John 3:16-17; Rom 5:8). Jesus came and paid the price needed to secure human freedom. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13). If the son therefore shall set you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36; Rom 6:14). Once the event of 2 Corinthians 5:17 happen to you, you become a new creation and old things have passed away. But you first have to repent and believe on the gospel.

Repent:  To “repent” means a sincere turning away in both the mind and heart from self to God.  To repent could also mean to recognize and acknowledge that our sin is offensive to God (Ezekiel 18:30).  Jesus calls for repentance, “The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15; Matt 4:17). To repent is not simply to say sorry and ask for forgiveness. That could amount to remorse for fear of punishment but simply plastic. Repentance is deeper than remorse; it involves asking God forgiveness and determined to turn away completely from your wrong doing or breaking the law. In fact, if you don’t repent from your sins, your prayers are abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9). Repentance is an essential part of salvation, requiring a turning away from the sin-ruled life to a life characterized by obedience to God.

SIX STEPS OF REPENTANCE:

1^st – Recognizeour errors and feel regret for them. We must avoid rationalizing away or creating justification for our shortcomings.

2^nd – Renounce our wrong doings by distancing ourselves in our hearts and minds from them.

3^rd – Confession: We must confess to the one we have wronged or hurt.

4^th – Reconciliation: begins with sincere apology and continue with whatever it takes to heal the hurt.

5^th – Make amends by taking concrete action, whether it is financial compensation, volunteer work or something else.

6^th – Resolve not to go back to it.

It may not be easy to be your own mirror, see your own wrongs. However, if you would look at yourselves through an inward mirror (the word of God) you will see your own spiritual leprosy. Do not explain it away or attempt to justify it but rather accept it. Feel honestly sorry (not remorse but in repentance); contemplate making amend and remember God had through His Son offered us a way of escape, to return and to be cleansed; to be made whole and start fresh again, going forward without looking back.

We have all done some wrongs and cannot help ourselves. We should not feel too unclean to come to Jesus, too unclean to believe in His saving power and to receive His love. Even when those around you avoid, despise and reject you, Jesus accepts you anyway and His ministry is all inclusive. He died for all, not some but all including you and I. Jesus accepts you when you were unacceptable and unlovable; cleanse and restore any believer to His Father and to holiness (Mark 1:43-45).