Let's Get Clean





Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. “Go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.” But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

In Jesus’ time, leprosy was a loathsome disease. Incurable, leprosy consumed the person who suffered from it — quite literally — leading to a terrible, lonely death. In its early stages, leprosy could be concealed, but as it spread, there was no hiding the sores that sprang up or the smelly pus that oozed out of them, and soon the person was an outcast, repulsive to all. The man in today’s story was covered with leprosy. He knew there was no hope for him, except through one man — a miracle worker named Jesus.

Leprosy has since been eradicated, but there is one thing with all the qualities of leprosy today. This is sin. It is loathsome. It is incurable. It is consuming. It leads to certain death. And, horror of horrors, we all suffer from it. There is not a single person among us who is not leprous with sin. We are all doomed, except for the hope that comes through one person — a savior named Jesus. And though the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord (see Romans 6:23). 

But we need to go to him, and we can’t do that unless we accept our sinfulness. Unfortunately, many of us don’t, claiming we don’t sin. But, as Scripture says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:9). Let us take a moment to examine our hearts now. Is it filled with hatred; jealousy; anger; vindictiveness; greed; lust; pride; unforgiveness; self-righteousness? These are all the stinking sores of leprous sin. How can we deny them? They are visible for all to see. But there is hope. If we go to Jesus and “confess our sins, he is faithful and just; he will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

Friends, Jesus is merciful and kind, compassionate and loving. I know we sometimes fear going to God, believing he will condemn us because we find condemnation all around us, but there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:1). He will cleanse us in his blood, and though our sins are like scarlet, we shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, we shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18).  And if you don’t believe me, ask the leper. He said, Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretching out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” And immediately, the leprosy left him. 

Let us go to Jesus and be made clean. 

Watch the video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: https://youtu.be/HNm8xGlTT9Q

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