The Miracles of Jesus

The Leprous Man

Matthew 8:1–34

“A miracle of God is an extraordinary or unnatural event that reveals or confirms a specific message through a mighty work. Jesus performed plenty of miracles. All the miracles He did were to glorify God, help others, and prove that He was indeed who He said He was—the Son of God.” ^[1]

            In Matthew 8:1-4, a leprous man came up to Jesus & knelt before him saying “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out & touched the diseased man and said, “I will, be clean.” The leprosy disappeared instantly. 

Back in Jesus’ day, not knowing what to make of leprosy, they were afraid of those infected with it. Leprous people were made social outcasts that ended up banished from their home and the city. Whenever they moved about they were to shout out “UNCLEAN!” so people would know where they were and stay away from them. They were sent to leper communities until they either got better or died. Therefore, Leprosy* was a contagious disease for which there was no cure, so it stands to reason a person wouldn’t want to be touching their skin. Jesus did something that was socially and culturally shocking in that he reached out and touched the leprous man. In some cases in scripture when he healed leprosy it wasn’t immediate, but they were healed just the same. Something we notice in scripture is that everyone who came to Jesus to be healed were healed. 

            Sin is also a disease without a cure, and we all have it. It is only the touch of Christ that can heal us from our sins. Like most diseases, like alcohol or gambling, we must acknowledge we have a problem before we can get better. We must come to the realization that we are sinners who cannot cure ourselves. We must seek Christ’s help in the form of forgiveness which he purchased by his blood. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^{[1]  https://www.gotquestions.org/miracles-of-Jesus.html}

* Leprosy is a slowly progressing bacterial infection that affects the skin, peripheral nerves in the hands and feet, and mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and eyes. Destruction of the nerve endings causes the affected areas to lose sensation. Occasionally, because of the loss of feeling, the fingers and toes become mutilated and fall off, causing the deformities that are typically associated with the disease.