While the Lord Jesus was on His way through a village some lepers saw Him; they did not come close, for it is so dreadful a disease, that persons who have it must live and keep away from others. But these lepers had heard of Jesus’ power to cure, and they called to Him, “Master, have mercy on us.”
Jesus’ answer was to go show themselves to the priests. To do that, they had to go to the temple in Jerusalem, and they may have been quite a distance from it. The men obeyed the command of Jesus, evidently expecting to be cured there, as it was no use to go to the priests unless they had hope of a cure first.
But the priests could not cure, though it was their duty by the law of Israel to examine one who had any spots of leprosy, and if they found him cured, to make special offerings.
All at once as the lepers went, they found they were already cured; the word of the Lord Jesus had made them well. One of the men, realizing he was cured, turned back and spoke loudly in praise to God; then he came back to Jesus and threw himself down at His feet in wonder and gratitude for this sudden blessing.
We would suppose all the men would return to thank the Lord Jesus; they could not doubt the great miracle, since leprosy is a disease of the skin and flesh, and all could see the others were healed. Yet only one man came to thank the Lord Jesus; the rest went on.
The man who came back was from the country of Samaria, where the people did not truly honor God, nor worship Him at Jerusalem as He had said. Yet the Lord Jesus healed him the same as the others, and he was the most grateful.
The Live and Sacrificed Birds
If the other men went on to Jerusalem, the priests would examine them in an outside place, and finding them cured, would sacrifice as the law directed. Two live birds, which could be sparrows, must be brought for each man: one bird to be held over a dish of water and killed, the other bird to be dipped in the blood of the dead bird. Then the priest would sprinkle some of the blood seven times on the man, and declare him clean of the leprosy. Then the live bird was let free to fly away.
This awful disease which spread and which none could cure, teaches us of what is worse than this disease—sin. Sin grows worse and affects others as well as ourselves, and we cannot stop it or cure it.
The little bird killed, taught of One to come from heaven to die for sinners. He arose and returned to heaven, as the little bird which had been dipped in the blood of death was let go to fly away.
While on earth that One, the Lord Jesus, cured the lepers by His word, but He must shed His blood in death to make sinners fit for God. He had power to make many lepers well as quickly as that one, so He has power now to save all sinners who come in their need to Him.
Further Meditation
1. How many came back to thank the Lord for their cleansing?
2. We can be very insensitive to sin even though it has a very deadly effect. Why is leprosy such a good illustration of sin?
3. An excellent, short, and simple book on what the Scriptures teach about the cleansing of lepers can be found in The Law of the Leper by G. C. Willis.