12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” 15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
In verses 12-16, Jesus healed a leper. Jesus launched a healing ministry at the onset of His public ministry.
5:12
And it happened when He was in a certain city [of Galilee],
Jesus went to a city in Galilee.
that behold, a man who was full of [covered with] leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Leprosy damages the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. It was a highly contagious and incurable disease that stigmatized those stricken with it. The disease was common in Palestine at the time of Jesus. Leprosy was a name given to a variety of skin diseases; that is, more than what we usually identify as leprosy, Hansen’s disease. This man was “full” or covered with leprosy; he had an advanced case, according to Dr. Luke.
Its contagion made lepers social outcasts. A leper was ostracized from society and interactions with people. The leper was confident that Jesus could make him “clean.” He broke social norms by approaching Jesus to heal him. He believed Jesus had the power to heal him.
5:13
Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
Jesus touched the leper, who was untouchable in society. That someone would touch this leper would have been a shock to him; no one had touched him physically in years. Touching a leper would have cast Jesus as ceremonially unclean. Most people would reject him. Jesus immediately healed the man, and the leprosy left him. To touch a leper was forbidden by Mosaic law. This man was healed instantly and readmitted into society after a proclamation by a priest that he was clean.
5:14
And He charged him to tell no one,
Jesus did not desire crowds for crowds’ sake. The news of His healing ministry could cause unnecessary attention.
“But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
Moses commanded that people go to a priest for cleansing (Leviticus 14:1-2). There was a requirement that diseased people like lepers were to separate from those of well-being. Jesus wanted His healing to be a testimony; it would be a declaration that the Messiah had come.
5:15
However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
News about Jesus’ healing ministry began to spread so that “great multitudes” came to hear Him. The crowds were so great that He withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
5:16
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
As His regular habit, Jesus withdrew from the crowd to go into the wilderness and pray.
PRINCIPLE:
Business can distract us from prayer.
APPLICATION:
Jesus repeatedly went to prayer. He sought separation from crowds to ensure He kept in close fellowship with the Father. Prayer was essential to stay on track with His mission. He had a habit of going to prayer.
