A Leper Came

“Ultimately it had to be done. If I perish, I perish.” There were two things which this man knew very well. Not to go to Jesus meant death, and to go to Him was an impossibility because, according to the law, he was an outcast and therefore could not be among people. What now? Through the impossibility he would still approach Jesus and fall at his feet.

Here we have come directly to an important aspect in our text. How did this man come to the Lord Jesus? Our text gives the answer: he came “and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Twice the Scriptures permit us to see in what this coming consists. Let us realize that without this coming to Christ, there is no healing for our deadly disease.

The word “worshipped” in our text has a deep meaning. In the New Testament it often involves a coming into a low place, literally, a falling on the knees, with the head on the ground, as an expression of humility and deep reverence. It points to a deep bowing before God, emphasizing “I am nothing.”

In the second place, this man said, “If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Do you see how this is an extension of worshipping? No, we do not read here of an unbelieving distrust regarding the power of Christ to cleanse him, but a trustful bowing under the will of Christ. Literally, this man said, “Lord, if it pleases Thee to do so, wilt Thou do it?” It signifies nothing more than saying, “Lord, do that which is pleasing in Thy sight.” It was an unconditional bowing under God, but at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Who knows, He might look upon me.

Young people, this is not “oldfashioned,” or “out of date,” but it is a picture, simply expressed, of a biblical conversion. Perhaps there are young people who read this and say, “If I only knew whether my faith were true. If I only knew that I would be welcomed by the Savior. If you only knew who I am. If I only had that true faith.”

Let us consider these questions for a moment. Indeed, let us first reverse them for a moment. Suppose you knew that you possessed such faith, and you also knew that it was “true” faith. If this man had at that moment reflected upon these questions, the result could well have been negative. Would you then be more worthy to be helped? Never forget: faith does not make us worthy before God. Faith is not the basis for salvation. We must not go to Jesus because we possess faith, but only because we cannot exist without Him. At His feet, one does not learn that he has everything, but the Holy Spirit shall teach him to be delivered and blessed by Him as one who lacks everything.

Then you will hear from His lips that the same hands which touched the leper will also touch you. In the hands of the Mediator lies full salvation. His hands are bountiful hands, pierced hands, blessing hands, strong hands, loving hands. Such hands have been His from eternity.

How is this in your life? Do you know of His hands? Have you ever, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, seen and confessed your uncleanness before God? All of us have need of cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ, even after grace received. It is to that Fountain of blood of the Lord Jesus that you are sincerely and unfeignedly invited. Therefore lay your sinful life at His feet and beg for deliverance from the destruction which you have merited.

Do not say, “It will not turn out that way.” It concerns your eternal destination. It will be fearful to fall as an unclean one in the hands of the living God. Only those who in this life have been washed, by grace, from their uncleanness shall eternally stand in robes washed and made white before the Lamb who has redeemed them to God by His blood.

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