I was only a young man when the dreaded disease began to take over my body. Prior to that horrible time in my life, I had been strong and healthy. People looked up to me. I was honored by many as an amazing worker, because of my strength. It started slowly with a small patch of dried skin on my hand. I noticed it and thought nothing of it. Maybe it was the fact that I spent too much time in the sun, or I hadn’t been drinking enough to keep my skin hydrated. Day by day, that little spot expanded. Soon my entire hand was covered with grey, peeling, lifeless skin.

In my town, people know all about leprosy. When someone is afflicted with this disease, they are immediately shunned. It is an ancient malady that eats away at your skin and eventually some of your fingers and limbs become so deformed, they become useless. It is considered a disease associated with uncleanliness. It is believed to be highly contagious. Those who suffer from Leprosy are sent to colonies with other lepers to spend their days outside of the community in isolation for the remainder of their lives. As the disease progresses, faces become unrecognizable. Limbs may fall off. Faces become deformed. You are unable to do normal daily tasks because of this infirmity. In a way, it becomes a death sentence to be diagnosed with Leprosy.

I had heard about this amazing healer who was walking the streets of Jerusalem and healing people who were blind and deaf. He was able to call out demons from those who were possessed by them. Those who were paralyzed or lost the ability to speak were also cleansed of their illnesses by this man named Jesus. At last, there was a glimmer of hope. I wondered if I could be counted among those who were healed. Jesus seemed to be doing miraculous things with a touch of His hand or a word from his mouth. He was a true miracle worker.

I decided to make my way out of the safety of the colony one night. I hid in the shadows during the day as a procession had formed on the city streets. Crowds of people followed Jesus. It was like a celebrity or royal had come to town. They all cried out in desperation for healing – for comfort – for power – for hope – for anything that would make their lives better. On the other hand, there were those who mocked Him and said He was a heretic – one who was a threat to the laws of Moses. They demanded that He stop riling up the crowds.

All I could see was determination in His eyes, as He talked and walked through the crowds – healing, giving hope, forgiving sins. It was something I couldn’t wrap my brain around, but I knew I had to get closer and get a look at this man. I slowly walked at the end of the procession and seemed to go unnoticed until a little boy cried out. “Leper, leper!”

The crowds scattered. They pushed and shoved to get away from me, but Jesus came to me with His arms outstretched. There was compassion in His eyes. I felt completely humbled. I fell to my knees before Him and told Him what I’d heard about Him. I knew that if I could be healed, He would be the one to do the healing. He touched my hand and the skin knit itself back together again. My deformities were repaired. My body was cleansed. I felt different inside too. Suddenly there was no doubt in my mind that this indeed was the promised Messiah. I felt the weight of my sin being lifted off of my soul as my body was being restored. The Savior of the world had come to save all mankind from much more than bodily infirmities. He came to crush the devil and take away the sin that was destroying our souls.