Touching Lepers

Luke 5:12-13

There is something to be said for comparing modern AIDS and ancient Leprosy when it comes to how we as believers are to approach these sicknesses. Both were or are very scary to their contemporary audiences. Both had or have immense stereotypes. Both had or have serious social ramifications. And both were or are perceived as having major spiritual connectedness.

Leprosy, as mentioned in the Bible, referred to a variety of skin diseases. Medical health practices being what they were in that day and age, it was not easy to differentiate diseases with common symptoms, let alone prescribe remedies that were specific and effective. In any case, leprosy was a diagnosis that essentially shut off a patient from all helpful contact with people. The ancient world’s approach to leprosy patients was worse than the way we treat modern AIDS victims, except that sick people in general carried a lot of sociological stigmas that we in the modern world have been learning to dismiss.

Jesus’ approach to the subject of leprosy sticks out in stark contrast to the overwhelming attitudes of his day. He, flat out, was not afraid of lepers and was eager to give them what they needed even more than physical healing – physical touch.

Jesus never seems to follow a set pattern in healing people. But when it comes to the leper in this story, the phrase that jumps out at the discerning reader is “Jesus reached out and touched the man.” Matthew, Mark and Luke all note the action.

In our day and age, it is hard to feel the significance of this phrase to a First Century audience. You just did not touch lepers – ever. Under any circumstance. They were banished outside of normal human existence to live out their lives in complete isolation from all but each other. Perhaps the closest I can find a modern illustration is in the movie “City of Joy” which shows the reaction of healthy people toward lepers in modern-day Calcutta. I’m not sure the reaction in our Western cities would be much different, even in our enlightened century.

Even worse than this social ostracism was the spiritual burden placed on lepers of Jesus’ day. If they were lepers, they were surely guilty of something grevious. Or else their parents were. This was also true of many other sicknesses. Sometimes Jesus deals with the spiritual issue of physical ailments. In this case, he does not. He avoids the subject altogether. Apparently, Jesus senses it is not crucial.

Lepers were not allowed to approach people who did not have leprosy. When non-lepers were nearby, they were to shout out, “Unclean!” so that all who heard would be forewarned. In this case, the man does not approach Jesus, but he does call out to him after he falls on his face, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He recognizes in Jesus one who has the ability and one who may also have the inclination to help him. Jesus quickly assures the man that he is willing and immediately demonstrates that he is also very capable.

Jesus, by his actions, demonstrates far more than his power to heal one of the most dreaded diseases of that day. He models for his followers for all time how we are to approach the unapproachable. Regardless of the stigmas attached – be they physical, social, or spiritual – we are to embrace the outcast and the misfit with a heart oozing with Father’s all-encompassing love. And we are to do so without regard to any judgments as to whether the objects of our embrace are worthy.

None of us are worthy of God’s love. And yet God lavishes that love on us ever so “wastefully.” So too we are to “waste” that love on others around us, even the “pariahs” of our day.