Mt 8:2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
We have here a picture of a saved sinner. Leprosy is a picture of sin in the Bible (see Isa. 1:5-6). Just as leprosy is an inward corruption that works its way outwardly, so is sin an inward corruption that manifests itself through what we think, feel, choose, say and do.
Leprosy affects the entire man (it affects his entire body). So does sin. It affects the entire man--spirit, soul and body.
Leprosy alienates the leper from human relationships. Lepers were ostracized, they were not permitted to go near people. They had to stay away from them at least 150 feet. It is likewise with sin. Sin separates and severs. Think of how many relationships and friendships that were destroyed because of sin.
Leprosy was incurable during Christ's time. It is no different with sin. No human being can save himself from sin's penalty, power and presence.
But the leper in our story came to the right person---Jesus Christ. He saw his desperate need, he was helpless and hopeless in himself. He knew that he could not contribute anything to effect his healing. He placed himself entirely at Christ's disposal. And Christ cleansed and renewed him. He stood up a new man.
We are all spiritual lepers. We are all in desperate need of salvation. We could never do anything to save ourselves. But Christ died for our sins and rose again from the dead, that if we put our trust in Him, we shall be saved---He will not only cleanse us of all our sins but He will also transform us into a new man.
Come to Christ! He accepts lepers!
