Luke 5:12-16
The background of leprosy in the Bible can be found in Leviticus 13 and 14. God provided instructions for Israel on how to deal with this problem. There were examples in the Old Testament of people who were infected with this disease and healed by God. Naaman the Syrian and Miriam the sister of Moses were infected with leprosy and healed by God. This disease was seen by people as God's punishment on a person for his sin. It was thought to be incurable except by a miracle from God.
This leper believed the Lord Jesus could heal him. He expressed complete faith in God's ability even though he did not know whether or not the Lord Jesus was willing to heal him. He knew he could. He just did not know if he would. This is the confusion the enemy puts into the minds of those who believe in God. I know he can, but will he? Don't be confused by this. The Lord Jesus demonstrated that he can heal us and he that is willing to heal us as well.
People were forbidden to touch a leper because of the probability of infection spreading. However, the Lord Jesus reached out and touched the man. He was healed instantly. There was never any danger of infection to the Lord Jesus. No disease or death or sin can stand in the way of the Son of God. He destroyed all the works of the devil.
Why did the Lord Jesus tell the man to follow the religious laws and present himself to the priests according to the Jewish laws? The Lord Jesus wanted him to be a testimony to the priests. The Lord Jesus cared about all these people. His compassion extended to the religious Jew as well as the lowly sick folk.
This same account of the leper was also recorded in Matthew and Mark. It was an important event in the life of the Lord Jesus and was recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and is even now at the right hand of God making intercession for us. He will return again to receive us unto himself that where he is we may be also. Everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus is saved.
Luke 5:17-26
The friends of a paralytic did all they could to make sure that he received help from the Lord Jesus. What are we doing to bring people to Jesus? What am I doing today to help bring others to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? These men let down the paralytic through the roof of the house. The Lord Jesus pronounced the man's sins were forgiven. In this case we can assume his physical disability was related to sin. The Lord Jesus forgave the man's sins and also healed the man's body. Spiritual and physical healing go hand in hand with the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus does not make a difference between salvation of the soul and salvation of the body. In God's kingdom we have a new body like the Lord Jesus. We will have a resurrected body in God's kingdom.
There were always people who opposed the work of God. Notice it was almost always religious, self righteous people who opposed the work of God. Satan deceived people with false religion in order to inoculate them from having true faith in God. The Lord Jesus knew their thoughts. He forgave sins. He healed the man. This was evidence that God was in their midst but they were unable to discern the facts before them. The same is true today. God speaks to us today but who is listening? Who can hear the voice of the Lord today?
The closer we get to the kingdom the less we can abide false religious systems. Judgment begins with the house of God. God discerns between the brother of the flesh and the brother of the spirit. Are you an overcomer?
Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus is saved.
