Read Luke 5:12-16

There is a lot said in the Bible about Leprosy.  Today the disease is referred to as Hansen’s Disease and easily curable if caught soon enough.  The laws concerning Leprosy are laid out in the book of Leviticus 13.  The disease is thoroughly described in every minute detail along with the symptoms.  The leper would be considered unclean and forced to live alone outside of the city. Eventually they would form colonies of those who suffered the same ailment, but they were all excluded from being part of society.  Not only would he be banned physically, but also spiritually, because it was thought that some specific sin cause the disease.

Leprosy begins with sores on the skin.  It then moves into the respiratory system.  Eventually the disease would eat away at the skin and affect the nervous system, causing pain triggers to be deadened.   He would not be aware of any injuries, because he would not have the sensation of touch.  His body would at last rot away and become  disfigured.

Simon, the Leper, had undoubtedly been cured from his disease by Jesus.  When Jesus went to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha it was at Simon’s home.  We don’t know if he was part of the family, but we do know he no longer suffered from Leprosy, because he was again living in his own house, back in society.  You can imagine the joy he experienced, not only by his healing, but having his Physician and Savior sitting at his table.

In those days, there was a stigma concerning Leprosy.  The beauty of this man’s healing included the cleansing of his body along with the forgiveness of all his sins.

That’s why Jesus planted Himself on this earth, became one of us, lived with us for a while, learned all about us and, in spite of our ugliness, He took our sin on His own shoulders. He carried that burden to the cross, suffered and died.  He was placed in a rich man’s tomb and on Easter morning, defeated death itself by returning to life.

Every sin, past, present and future has been cleansed from our souls, just as Jesus washed Simon clean of his Leprosy.  Sin no longer has dominion over any of us, if we believe that God did this miraculous deed so we wouldn’t have to.  With our cleansing we can also look forward to eternity in paradise.

ALL GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH!